During the fall months, when the grapes have ripened and before they are harvested, their sweet smell hangs heavy over the community.
According to a history of the area written by Edward Kurtz Sr., in the summer of 1804, James Dunn found and cleared a plot of land in Portland and made arrangements to buy 1,000 acres. He is considered the founder of Portland, which today remains a rural community.
Deacon Elijah Fay introduced grape growing into the Portland community with the Concord variety first planted in 1859 and expanding until it became a major industry in the area. The business industry grapes once generated has declined, but grape growing continues.
