Before Dutch Elm Disease killed the stately trees that once lined both sides of Route 302, and before North Windham became the commercial hub of the Lakes Region, this is the scene you would have seen if you were driving toward Portland from Raymond. Peck’s Country Store, the large building on the right carried just about everything including, as advertised on the sign, Quoddy shoes. People shopped at the IGA store just before it, and one can see that there was plenty of parking right at the door. No sidewalks got in the way of shoppers. This scene is close to the intersection of Routes 115 and 35, with Boody’s Store still in place on the left hand side, at the corner. That store burned (for the last time) in 1964, so this picture had to have been taken before that event. (Photo courtesy Windham Historical Society)
Send questions/comments to the editors.
