This old photo, taken in 1901, is identified as the Dr. Parsons’ residences at Windham Hill. Two brothers, both doctors, and descendants of the founder of Parsonsfield, settled at the hill in the mid-1800s, buying Dr. Waterman’s property and taking over his practice when he moved. Before the Civil War, one of the brothers traveled south and wrote “An Inside View of Slavery,” with introduction by Harriet Beecher Stowe. He was an active abolitionist. The rare book today sells for upwards of $175 if it can be found. Their property was sold in 1844, and since 1885 the building has been the home of many other parsons – the ministers serving the Windham Hill Church. Only the main building (to the left) remains today. The Parsons house has become the Parsonage. Dr. Charles Parsons died in 1864; his brother, Dr. Joseph Parsons, practiced until his death in 1886. (This photo is from the collections at Windham Historical Society)
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