Pittsfield Past Businesses Directory

Also see the 2005 Current Businesses list or the 2002 Current Businesses list.

Created from an original document compiled by Don Hallenbeck.
Readers are invited to supply corrections or missing details such as date opened, proprietors,
location, name changes, or date closed. Send info to Tom Roberts.

HELP US! This page is a work in progress. If you know of any past businesses not listed here, or the history
or additional info for any business, contact us with the new information and we'll add it to this list.
Here is a helpful Business History Example form.

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Located at 11 Central Street, across from the Depot, the A.J. Loder block housed the businesses of both A. J. Loder and his wife R. W. Loder, and included a photographic studio, florist shop, boots, shoes and rubbers shop, and offered water colors, crayon sketches, picture framing and bedding plants and cut flowers from their 150' x 24' greenhouse. See the ads in A.J. Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield ME on page 45 and page 62 and other pages.

An American Woolen Co. parade float in 1946. A view of the American Woolen Mill, formerly the Pioneer Woolen Mill, in 1914 it was bought by American Woolen Co. who operated it until 1953 when it closed. Also see the Woolen Mills Photo Page

Opened by Bud Homstead around 1959 on Hunnewell Avenue and expanded to double the size of the building in 1967. Stopped giving out trading stamps in 1969. In 1979 major interior changes added new departments. Name changed to Bud's Shop 'n Save. Moved to Somerset Plaza in 1988. The original Red & White was on Main Street (photo on right).

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3 Waverly Ave., Carl Jones shared small shop with wife Joyce's florist business. Hardware side closed c. 2001. 2005 photo.

R. A. Conant, father of Vera Conant Brown, in 1886 built the largest pant factory in Pittsfield. He lived at what is now 11 Manson Street, a large three story home surmounted by a cupola. Back of this home he erected a two-story building 68 feet long, reaching nearly to the R. R. tracks and containing 2700 square feet. He employed 14 girls and had an overhead expense of $3000 per month. It is recorded that in 1888 one employee put out 60 pairs of overalls in one day. This historic manufacturing plant has long since disappeared. The last of its life it served as an apartment house and later was torn down. The only reminder of it today is a tired looking granite hitching post that once stood near the front entrance. Large (right) and small format photos of Conant Pant Factory, with employees standing in front.

During its heyday, Cornforth's Clothing Store advertised via glass slides provided by clothing manufacturers to be shown at the Bijou Theatre, where they were projected onto the screen during intermission, while the movie reels were re-wound. For more on these glass slides, see the H.L.Cornforth page.
Located next to Merrill Bank Building in the Berry's Pharmacy building. Robbed of practically its complete contents in 1933. Upon owner's death in February, 1968, was operated by Francis "Chub" Smiley until his death in January, 1974. Closed that April after closeout sale. Storefront bought by R. P. Berry and added to Berry's Pharmacy as gift shop/greeting card shop until 1982. Welby's Drug Store then opened here before moving to Somerset Palza. Building torn down to make a pedestrian walkway and a drive up window for Merrill Bank.

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Located at the northwest corner of Park and Main Strees, where the Citgo gas station now stands, the store was in operation in 1882. It later became the Hunter & McMaster Store. See ad on page 1 of the April 1882 Pittsfield Advertiser

See Better Homes Discount Center.

75 Main Street in the Perkins Block. Opened in 1935 as a 5 & 10 store by Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence A. Dysart from Skowhegan. New storefront added in 1948. Owner retired in February, 1973. Sold to new owner, closed January 1985. Building later bought by Kleinschmidt Associates. 1972 (left) and 1955 (right) photos.

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5 North Main Street. Edwards was bought out by GE Infrastructure, a unit of General Electric, in March 2005. Both Edwards locations ( Former Bud's Shop 'n Save and former Pioneer Woolen Mill) continued as before the buyout. The February, 2005 photo is of the Hunnewell Ave. location, former home of Bud's Shop 'n Save and built in 1959. Theier website is at www.est.net. Also see the Woolen Mills Photo Page

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Originally named Pittsfield Motor Sales, the dealership was housed in an old carriage house that had been moved to the Lancey Street location from the corner of Library and South Main, where the Library now stands. In this building was demolished and the current structure erected. Earl E. Friend opened a branch of Friend and Friend Garage in 1922 in this location. Closed, moved to Skowhegan. Photos from 1972 (when open) and 2005.

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Located at the corner of North Main St. and Sebasticook St., Hubbard's Service Station began in 1928. Garage & Heating Oil. Garage closed January, 1969, heating oil business merged with Staples Oil to form Webber Oil in January, 1970. Garage re-opened as Joe's Used Cars in 1970. Photo of the crew from Hubbards Esso Service Station (current site of Pittsfield Pharmacy). From L to R: Tommy Tufts, Richard Peppard, George A. Hallenbeck, Buzzy Belanger, Robert N. Hubbard. Thanks to Forest Frost for identifying these folks. Photo of garage is circa 1960. Building now (2007) houses Pittsfield Pharmacy.

Retail Flour House store of the Hunter & McMaster Grist Mill. Large (left) and small format scans.

The Grist Mill of Hunter & McMaster. (See above two entries.) Located on the island in the Sebasticook, now traversed by Main Street, and was originally the Dexter & Sampson Grist mill. In 1909 the grist mill was moved to Park Street. For over twenty five years John H. Maxfield was the head miller. See ads and story on pages 6-7 of A.J. Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield ME. Newspaper photos in large (left) and small formats.

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J. Kenton Wright's first location was on South Main St. February, 2005 photo (right). Also February 2005 photos (left) of J.K. Wright building and sign at 66 Somerset Ave. See L & H Chevy Dealership. Sold to Varney's Chevrolet in late 2004. Building burned in March 2005, and new building built on site for Varney's Chevrolet.

The N.J. Karam Building's first occupant was the Pittsfield Post Office, in 1927. Newspaper photos on left as Post Office was moving in; 1972 photo on right after post office had left. See also Waverley General Store.

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In 1952-53, the L & H Chevrolet Agency was established on South Main and Libby Streets, and in 1955 Adrian Hallee bought out Mr. Lenentine. The company had a body shop on Hunnewell Avenue. Bought out by J. K. Wright, who later moved to at 66 Somerset Avenue, the current location of Varney Chevrolet.

11 Park St. Opened in 1909. Asa Ladd, prop. retired in 1982. Closed, owner died, building moved up on Grove Hill, was located between Citgo Gas Station and Central Maine Redemption Center (which later became Mill Pond Market, then Pittsfield Village Pizzeria.)

The Lancey House Garage, managed by Earle E. Friend, Jr., agent for the Oldsmobile, was located at 11 Central Street (across from the Depot) on the site of what once was Loder's flower shop and later the Parker Littefield Garage. Closed. Building demolished in 1977. In the photo, notice the "Oldsmobile" sign almost directly below the peak of the Lancey House.

In 1962 Willard W. Lehr, Jr., and Burton G. Hammond combine agencies, move to Hunnewell Ave. as Lehr Insurance. Moved again circa 1972 when Cianbro building was built, wherein the Lehr Agency now resides. Original building moved to Skowhegan, next to fire dept (see third photo, taken in March, 2006).

Opened 11-Feb-1965, located on Main St between Lancey House site and RR tracks. Postcard on left is from circa 1940. The photo on right was taken during the Eisenhower visit in 1955. Sold in 1970 to Dean Grant who opened Grant's Texaco.

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A full service printing shop located on north corner of Hunnewell Ave. and Main St. in the early 1900's. Photographs of Harris V. Matthews parade float in 1919 and of the print shop in December 1911. See ad on page 22 of A.J. Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield which Mathews printed.

The Midway Drive-In was located on the south side of Route 100, near Houston Corner and just to the right of the current entrance to Frank Woodworth's gravel pit. Today (2006) the old projection house can still be seen amid the surrounding brush, and the rows of dirt berms are still evident. Moviegoers parked with front wheels on the berms to elevate the front end of the cars so the occupants could better see the movie screen. In operation in the 1950's. Name of the Drive-In supplied by Elwood and Gloria (Bridgham) Lovejoy, and the name probably referred to being mid-way between Pittsfield and Newport.

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A home based florist business located on South Main Street in 1972. Closed.

Herbert Newhouse, after graduating from M.C.I., in 1923, joined his father in farming and in a very few years became one of the outstanding poultry producers of Maine. Twice in his farming career he has sold his poultry interests, but each time returned to build a larger and more modern plant. Following a spectacular fire in 1961 that destroyed his poultry house, he erected one of the largest and finest plants in the industry. After several years of successful operation, he sold the business to his son, George, who in 1966 was carrying on in the tradition of his father. Since bought by Mr. Ricca, moved operation to Massachusetts.

Northern Maine Packing Company began canning corn in 1880 and opened its first Pittsfield plant in 1900. Plants also in East Corinth and Corinna where its headquarters were located. Canned under the brand names "Royal", "Orange Blossom", "Sweet Pearl", "Morning Glory", "Family Pride", and "Regent". C.T. Moses, general manager; Winfield Moses, Pittsfield plant manager. Newspaper photos in large (right) and small format newspaper photos.

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60 Main Street, in the former Waterville Savings Bank building on the site of the Lancey House. People's Heritage became TDBanknorth in 2005. Learn more about the history of TD Banknorth here.

There was a newspaper article in 1869 in the Bangor Daily Whig and Courrier about the opening of the Pioneer Mill.
In 1914 the Pioneer, Waverly, and Newport Woolen Mills were sold to the American Woolen Company. The Pioneer, Pittsfield largest woolen mill, stayed in operation until its the American Woolen Co. closed it in 1953. In 1956 most of the old mill buidling was torn down.
With impetus from the Kiwanis Club, a development corporation was formed and $53,570 was subscribed by 477 persons by January 1954. An agreement was secured with American Woolen that while they would not operate a woolen mill in Pittsfield, they would sell their interests in the mill to the Pittsfield Improvement Association and loan funds to construct a 48,000 square foot manufacturing building—cost estimated at $300,000. The Edwards Company of Norwalk, Connecticut became interested in the use of such a building as a result of contacts made by Bartlett Cram of the Maine Development Commission. They were ready to expand and were enticed by the idea they could help design a building financed by others. In December 1956 the first doorbells came off the line at Edwards.
More information about the Woolen Industry of Pittsfield. Also see the Woolen Mills Photo Page.

Located at the SE corner of Main and Easy Streets, operated by Augustus Holz and family. "Our kind of baking tickle the palate, satifies that hungry feeling, and makes you wish there was room for more." Building also housed the first Pittsfield Post Office. Located at current site of Cianbro. The building was moved to this site circa 1897 from the Hathorn Stock Farm.

H.H. Nutter, prop. Located on Main Street. "The Rexall Store of Pittsfield Maine" H.H. Nutter was responsible for a whole line of postcards of the Pittsfield area, which he sold in his drug store. Interior of the Pittsfield Drug Store. Large (right) and small formats of postcard photo. Also see their ad on Page 47 of Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield ME.

In 1900, electric power came in the form of the Pittsfield Electric Light and Power Company, on Saw Mill Street (near Drake Street). Within a few years it combined with three other local electric companies to become the Central Maine Power Company. Saw milling was an important industry. The power and light company cut and sawed two million feet annually in an electrically powered saw mill for finished wood products, near the end of Drake Street, next to RR tracks. Acquired by Sebasticook Power Company sometime between 1907 and 1914. Also see Smith-Conant electric power company. Large (right) and small format of newspaper photos.

F.W. Briggs, manager. "Exhibition Quality Barred Rocks, Cockerels at all Prices, EGGS FOR HATCHING, Illustrated Catalog Sent free on request". See ad on pages 14 & 15 of Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield ME. 1907 newspaper photo.

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Smith Woolen company advertised on page 2 & 3 of A. J. Loder's "1907 Souvenir or Pittsfield ME". Smith owned the old Riverside Woolen Mill, re-named it Smith Woolen Company, and began retailing at the mill under the name Riverside Woolen Co. selling "direct from the Mill to the Wearer." See Riverside Woolen Mill. Also see the Woolen Mills Photo Page

Perhaps the most important project of the year 1898 so far as the economy of the town is concerned was the introduction of electric lights to Pittsfield. The Smith-Conant electric power company was ready to start by July and the town voted in August to have street lights and more and more residents subscribed to the service. Power was generated via steam power for the Smith-Conant mill, and surplus was sold to the town. Also see Pittsfield Electric Power and Light Co.

Located on Lancy St. Incorporated 1902. Manufacturers of "Somerset Brand" pasteurized sweet cream, milk and butter. J. Natt Gilman manager of the main office in Pittsfield. Branch creameries at Canton, Perry, South Newburg, and Winterport. Wholesale store in Salem, Mass. See ad in Loder's 1907 Souvenir of Pittsfield ME on page 46. Newspaper photos in large (right) and small formats.

Main Street, down from Craig's hardware. Jewelry and appliances, TV, stereos. Closed in late 1960's. Building demolished during urban renewal in 1979-80.

1972 photo. Became Penny Pinchers Discount Outlet. Current home of Kwong Lee Chinese Restaurant.

Located at 10 Main St. Opened in 1965, corner of Main and Easy streets, on site of parsonage next to Unitarian Church, at 1 N. Main St. Closed, bought by Webber Oil, changed to Exxon Gas Station, then to Gulf around 1998. 1972 photo.

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Located on Park Street, near the southwest corner of Park and Main Streets in 1907.

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"This was the man whom The Advertiser in its February edition in the year of 1885 noted had registered at the Lancey House with his wife. He had just sold out his interest in the Exchange Hotel in Dexter and was in Pittsfield "looking for a location for a livery stable". He evidently had no difficulty finding such a business for shortly thereafter it was reported that he had purchased teams and carriages of the Lancey House to operate such a livery stable." -- from Pittsfield on the Sebasticook. More on Col. Walter G. Morrill here.

Opened in May, 1971. Name later changed to People's Heritage Bank which was changed to TDBanknorth. 1972 photo. Location of the old Lancey House.

A feed and hardware store, located on Central Street, next to the RR tracks. Langdon Andre was manager in 1966. The building was formerly Eastern Maine Grain Company, and before that the barn for Hathorn Stock Farm. Later became Better Homes Discount Center. The building was torn down piece by piece in 1994, and the lumber and beams recycled.

1936 flood photos of and around the Withee Mill.
Also see the Woolen Mills Photo Page.

NOTES:

About this document: This History of Pittsfield's Past Businesses page was created from a document originally compiled by Don Hallenbeck. Further editing and additions were made by Tom Brown and Tom Roberts from 2005 to the present. Scanning of antique photos was done by Kathy Palmer and Tom Brown. Photos from 1972 taken by Ermine Trecartin's 1972 Pictoral Tour of Pittsfield. Photos from 2005 taken by Tom Roberts.

Original Photos Available: Larger, higher resolution, uncropped versions of all photos shown on this entire website, plus many others, are on the "Original Scans DVD" available from the Pittsfield Historical Society. See the Society's Items for Sale page.