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KENNEBUNKPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Conversations with the Community
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BUILDING HISTORY
Honoring Foundational Trades
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THE JUNIOR BOARD
Growing the Kennebunkport Historical Society
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KENNEBUNKPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY |
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THE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT AT THE TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL |
Last fall, the Historical Society began conducting interviews with Kennebunkport’s oldest citizens. It was a wonderful experience, and we look forward to sharing those conversations once they are properly edited. This year, and as the world opens a bit, the Society invites the community to the Town House School to share in commonly remembered times. The Oral History project will kick off on May 17 and the topic will be the Fire of 1947. To reserve a seat, please click here. Many remember stories about the fire and other topics, either personal accounts or stories passed down from loved ones and it is the aim of the project to honor and listen. We invite all ages to the conversation with the hopes that school aged children might connect with local history and learn in accessible ways. The Oral History Project will take place at the Town House School once a month. This is not a lecture but rather a story-telling community conversation. We will also offer lectures, and our schedule is available on our website. If you would like to contribute to the conversation and need transportation to the schoolhouse, kindly let us know and we can make arrangements. We hope you will join in the conversation. Feel free to send along photos for us to share.
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MID-WEEK MUSIC (& SOMETIMES SUNDAYS) AT THE TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL WITH DANA PEARSON AND LOCAL GUEST ARTISTS |
Kennebunkport is a blessed community to have such talented musicians as Dana Pearson and his crew. Since last summer, and ongoing twice per month (Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon), we host live music at the Town House School. Although not distantly historic, the music of the Beatles, Dylan, British Folk music, sounds of the 70s, and more certainly spark nostalgia. The Schoolhouse has exquisite acoustics, and this small venue is a lovely place for the community to gather once again. The concerts are BYOB and therefore, a 21 and over event. To purchase tickets for any Mid-Week Music concert, please click HERE!
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LECTURES AT THE TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL |
Once a month, on Tuesday mornings, we offer lectures at the Town House School. Lecture subjects vary and ticket prices will reflect this. Most of our lectures are free for our members. The next two lectures (May 24 & June 14) feature interesting facts about two local gentlemen: Silas Perkins and David Clark, Shipbuilder. Larry Ryan, local historian and longtime Society leader and volunteer will lead these informational discussions. We thank him for his time and talent and look forward to learning. If you would like to share your knowledge with the community through a lecture and it is related to Kennebunkport History in some way, we welcome your suggestions and creativity.
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THE NEW JUNIOR BOARD AT THE KENNEBUNKPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In February, exactly 70 years after the very first assembly of the Kennebunkport Historical Society, history was made when we initiated our new Junior Board. The Junior Board is a team of students ages 10-17 with the only common denominator being their love for Kennebunkport. This modest group of six includes students from the local RSU21, a home- schooler, two local private school students, and two students who live in Kennebunkport during summer months. This team has been brainstorming about different ways we can engage younger members and families and create programming, tours, fundraisers, and more. The Junior Board will assist in staging programs at the growing campus. They look forward to sharing their creativity and talent with the community very soon.
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Executive Director, Kristin Haight
Junior Board President, Alana Harrison
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BUILDING HISTORY AT THE TOWN HOUSE CORNERS CAMPUS |
The history of Kennebunkport was shaped on the hard labor of the many workers who lived here. Both men and women-and sometimes children-worked various trades, crafts, and hobbies to sustain life for their community and for their family. These activities included but were not limited to, carpentry, blacksmithing, shipbuilding, masonry, farming, quilting, sewing, knitting, flower gardening, writing, performing, fishing, baking, artists, hat-making, and more. The Building History project honors these important foundational trades and will offer, classes and demonstrations for all ages in the community throughout the calendar year.
• Building History for kids: During April Vacation we offered a day camp in our wonderful barn for students ages 9-12. These students worked with metalwork, toured the blacksmith shop, made instruments, formed their own band, and basically had a blast. They were introduced to hand tools and shown safety around a workshop. We will be offering day camps in July and August at the Town House Corners Campus. Please watch our website for costs and times in the coming weeks and please spread the word. The programming is just beginning and we look forward to being able to offer more with time and support. Over time, we hope to grow a blacksmithing program, carpentry, masonry, farming, and more. We are seeking funding, expertise, and collaboration.
• Building History for intergenerational groups: We are offering a variety of crafts and hobbies at the Schoolhouse and in the barn. Next week (May 11 at 4:00PM), we are partnering with the Technical Communications class at the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design. They are offering some light demonstrations and will be there to share their student journey. We welcome all ages to stop by and say hello, watch them install a bilge pump, practice handheld tools, see a slideshow of their journey, and answer community questions. Later in the month, on Thursday evening, May 19, from 7-9PM, Ann Thompson, Art educator, will be teaching us how to make Mossariums. In June, we offer a class for beginner genealogists. We welcome all ages to these unique sustainable craft/hobby/trade events. Materials and instruction are included in ticket price.
• Building History at the Town House Campus: Our vision of the campus is to grow the hands-on trades demonstrations and workshops and slowly build a campus for our members and for the community. We are currently working on bringing some blacksmith programming and a carpentry program that assists us by building picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, benches, window boxes, an outdoor stage, raised garden beds, and birdhouses, etc. We also hope to launch a masonry program where students and families of all ages can learn how to build patios, firepits, walkways, and outdoor ovens. Soon, we will have a place for our members to gather for outdoor events. A farming and gardening program that will focus on pollination, sustainability, and historic accuracy. Our vision is to create a place for the community built by the community. This plan is currently blossoming. We are seeking financial supporters, grant writers, and experts in hands-on crafts, trades, or hobbies to help us get this project on its feet.
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TEA & TALES AT THE TOWN HOUSE SCHOOL |
Once per month, on Sunday afternoon at 4PM, we will be offering a new topic for our Tea & Tales series. The teas will be family friendly, Victorian-inspired, and semi-elegant. Each will be accompanied by storytelling of some kind. The menu of small sandwiches and light sweets will be accompanied by a selection of hot tea. In April, we kicked off the season with a tea inspired by titanic storytelling. We are so grateful for our event sponsor, Tara Scopelliti, volunteers Larry and Marylou Ryan, Denise Stevens, Samantha McIntire, and Emma Stevens, for all of your help.
To purchase tickets for our next Tea & Tales, please click HERE!
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ROTATING ART AT THE PASCO EXHIBIT CENTER
Ongoing until June 1: The many works of Louis Norton (including his shed murals)
June 10-August 30: The paintings of Daniel Chick.
Champagne opening night, June 10, 5PM.
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HISTORY ON THE RIVER
Mark your calendars for this fundraising event sponsored by Coastal Bike & Kayak on July 24 at 9:00AM, starting at 8 Western Ave, Kennebunk. This guided tour with the Historical Society features stories about several spots along the Kennebunk River. Tickets are available online and through our website.
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CHILDREN'S DAY (2ND ANNUAL) AT TOWN HOUSE CORNERS CAMPUS
Historic games and crafts that are fun for all ages. Storytelling, music, food, & fun. From 10:00am-2:00PM. Details to follow. Tickets and sign-ups will be made available soon.
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70TH ANNIVERSAY HERITAGE WEEKEND
Although details are still filling in for our Heritage weekend events at the Kennebunkport Historical Society, October 14, 15, & 16 with activities for all ages at the Town House Campus and our historic “Nott House”.
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We are so lucky at the Kennebunkport Historical Society to have such a talented team of volunteers. From the behind-the-scenes workers such as maintenance and digitization of the archives to organizing, gardening, fundraising, grant writing, and more, to the docents/tour guides and gift shop associates, we are so grateful for the talent and time of so many. If you would like to join our wonderful team of volunteers, recruit your friends to help, or support the program with a monetary gift, we welcome you! |
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Celia’s Garden: As many of you know, the diaries left behind at the “Nott House” included accounts of the historic gardens that Celia Nott Perkins cultivated from 1853-1888 when she passed away. She was known about town for her gardens, and she proudly tended to beds, pots, window boxes, and vegetables/herbs. Our vision for the historic garden at 8 Maine Street is to recreate and maintain those exquisite historic gardens. The Society is seeking collaboration and sponsorship as well as a volunteer team for this project.
History Tours: We owe a debt of gratitude to the Mooneyhan Family Foundation and the Virginia Somers Hodgkins Foundation for their support in our developing educational outreach. Some of these funds allow us to create new tours around town and find new ways to share our stories. Our mission at the Society is to protect and preserve the history of Kennebunkport while making it accessible for today and for future generations. Our vision is to continue this mission with the goal of continuing the stewardship and growing community involvement. The sponsorship has enabled us to engage specialists to increase and improve our ability to share our stories on new platforms.
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WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR MISSION |
Oral History Project: We are seeking sponsors for professional filming and editing of these ongoing community conversations. Please click here to support this project. Sponsoring a single video is $2,000.
Nott House Preservation Fund: This fund will be for the ongoing care of our collection at the historic Nott House (White Columns). The fund will go towards upkeep and preservation of the collections within and will include cooling, dehumidification, and proper storage for precious collections therein. Please click here to support this project.
Tea & Tales: Your $200 Sponsorship will support this ongoing intergenerational storytelling and tea combination. Please click here to support this project.
Building History: Your sponsorship will provide for materials and instruction for our ongoing hands-on historic trades, crafts, & hobbies program. Please click here to support this program.
Gift Shop: Your sponsorship will help us build our inventory at our Gift Shop and grow our online outreach. Please click here to support this program.
Volunteers: You can support the Historical Society’s Volunteer program in three ways: Time, Talent, and Treasure. Your gift will help us with our volunteer appreciation parties & assist us with necessary supplies for the team. We also welcome assistance in all areas of our organization. Kindly let us know about your interests and your schedule and we will gladly find a place for your talents. Please click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
Rotating Art Exhibits at Pasco Center: Your $200 sponsorship will help us prepare light snack offerings and champagne. This will also assist with any maintenance or display fees associated with the exhibit. Please click here to support this project.
Prelude: Prelude is not far away and we look forward to many new and old traditions with the Society. Your sponsorship helps us with our Christmas gala as well as other costs associated with the season. Please click here to support this program.
Celia’s Garden: Your gift will go to help us acquire plant material, tools, and any necessary professional assistance towards our project to recreate Celia’s historic gardens. Please click here to support this project.
Bush Family Hometown Exhibit: Your gift will assist our plans to freshen this special exhibit. Please click here to support this project.
General Gift for Operations: Your gift will be used to continue our administrative work at the Kennebunkport Historical Society. We appreciate unrestricted funds. Please click here to support this project.
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On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Kennebunkport Historical Society, we are so grateful for the continued support of our community members.
On a personal note, as I approach the first anniversary of my time here at the Society, I am humbled and appreciative of your welcoming words, gestures, and support. I have a terrific and talented team and am optimistic about the future of the Kennebunkport Historical Society.
In addition to your financial support, we encourage you to attend as many of our events as you can. Tell your friends. Spread the word. The future of the Society lies with you!
Thanks again for your support and feedback,
Happy Summer everyone!
Cheers,
Kristin Lewis Haight, M.S.
Executive Director
Kennebunkport Historical Society
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KENNEBUNKPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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