The Cressey name has been in Gorham for a very long time. The very first Cresseys arrived in Gorham in 1745, first settling on what we know as Cressey Hill off of Route 25 just beyond the USM campus. Back then, Gorham was known as Narragansett 7. There were only 230 residents at the time.

Fast forward to 1924, Valentine’s Day – the day that Ernest Cressey was born. Mr. Cressey was born to George and Grace Cressey in the house his grandfather built on Flaggy Meadow Road. He grew up in that home, raised his children there, and continues to live there to this day. All who know him, friends and family alike, refer to him as “EC.”

EC reminisced about his school days, chuckling, adding that, “he often liked to skip school.” He recalls his business teacher in particular, Doris Robinson. This was the class that Cressey did really well in as he had a knack for business. At age 18, after working for Ed Young on his farm, Cressey started his own poultry business.

While once one of the biggest poultry farmers in Cumberland County, after many years, he began to see a decline in this industry. Seeing this coming, Cressey stopped getting new chickens. Many of the barns had started to deteriorate and some collapsed. The largest barn is still standing and is currently used for storage. He had already decided to get involved in the rental business and had begun building before getting out of the poultry industry altogether.

In 1968, Ernest and his wife Elizabeth established Cressey’s Apartments. They built their first four-unit building right next to their home on Flaggy Meadow Road. Cressey also has apartment buildings located on Main Street, Gray Road, and several others on Flaggy Meadow Road.

This is truly a family business with his son, Mike, instrumental in many facets of the business while his granddaughter, Stephanie, works as the office manager. EC said the goal with his apartments “is to make each unit feel like a home, while keeping rates reasonable.”

Cressey will tell you his life has been very interesting. He has done some amazing things including being a successful business man, serving on the Town Council for seven years, among more personal things, such as marrying his lovely wife Elizabeth in 1949, being a father, grandfather, and a great-grandfather. EC is looking forward to new adventures in the future years.