The Kennebunkport Historical Society was only a year old and didn’t have a headquarters yet in 1953. Educator, Melville Freeman was the Society’s first Historian. He had not yet written the History of Cape Porpoise, but his 1953 illustrated history-talk schedule makes me feel like a slouch.

Freeman was also one of the organizers of the July 31, 1953, Cape Porpoise Day events which included a tour of his house and garden on Fishers Lane.

A County Fair at Atlantic Hall kicked off the festivities at 10am followed by eight open house tours under the auspices of the Kennebunkport Historical Society from 11-4:30. These houses ranged from ancient to modern.

Stop 1 was the Mr. and Mrs. George E. Emmons house on Pier Rd, built in 1854 by John Fletcher and sold to Henry B. Hutchins in 1885.

Stop 2 was Ye Olde Garrison House, built for Rev. Thomas Prentice in 1731 and garrisoned in 1734. Mrs. Maurice F. Leach, aka Ida, lived at the Garrison House in 1953.

Stop 3 was Mr. and Mrs. Melville C. Freeman’s “Back Stage” built by the Freemans in the early 1940s on Fishers Lane.

Stop 4 was The Capt. Seth Grant House on Pier Road occupied by Miss Constance Worcester in 1953. It was built in or before 1828 on land Capt. Grant acquired from his brother-in-law, Capt. John Bickford.

Stop 5 was the gardens at the Davis House on Pier Road. Mrs. Davis also displayed her collection of antique drums.

Stop 6 was The Mrs. Charles L. Wentworth Estate on Bickford Island, built in 1901 and enlarged in 1904. The Historical Society tea committee was serving tea on Mrs. Wentworth’s lawn from 3-4:30pm.

Stop 7 was Winkie Perry’s Fish House. Winkie said the end over the water was made with pieces of a Nova Scotia schooner wrecked nearby and brought to Langsford Road by Alec Rice in 1850.

Stop 8 was the modern home of the Pendergast family built in 1951 on a hill rising from Paddy’s Creek.

Thank goodness someone brought a camera along on that thrilling 1953 house tour.