PATTEN, Maine — Madelyn Porter, Patten’s oldest resident, was treated to a drive-by parade in her honor as she celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, March 14.
Although guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 were in effect, family and residents made their best efforts to mark the historic occasion. Residents passed by Porter’s home in their vehicles, some of which were decorated with balloons, and family members stayed curbside to hand out cupcakes.
Born in Winchester, New Hampshire, in 1921, Porter moved to Patten in 1942 after marrying her husband Raymond, who passed away in 2019. She worked as a bookkeeper for her husband’s two businesses, Porter’s Flying Service and Porter’s Woodworking. The two also owned a local motel for a period of time.
Porter’s family described her as “a housewife that loves to cook and feed people,” and someone who “loved playing cards with family and friends.”
In addition to the drive-by celebration, Porter also received Patten’s Boston Post Cane with its signature gold head, which is presented to the oldest resident in town.
