KHS News

I always assumed these whale jawbone begonia bed and the whale rib and vertebrae arbor were conceived when some poor departed whale washed ashore at Cape Porpoise in the 1920s but a few years ago I found a picture of Herbert Allen showing them off in the 1902 Midsummer Edition of The Wave. In the picture, the vine growing on the arbor was already quite mature, reaching just about to the top. The Allen’s lot was one of the first cottage lots sold by the Cape Porpoise Land Company in 1898 so the whalebones have been there almost as long...

To check out our Winter newsletter, please click HERE!

Kennebunk, ME November 8, 2022 at RSU21 middle school, the Kennebunkport Historical Society will collaborate with local students for a special oral history project featuring local Veterans as well as elders who may remember what life was like in the Kennebunks during WW2. Each “block” of the day will require volunteer participants to answer questions prepared by students. American history is the focus of the eighth-grade curriculum, so this celebration of our local veterans and citizens will be a unique opportunity for students to have a personal encounter with the stories of history, rather than the textbook version. The earliest...

Kennebunkport Historical Society Presents: Gifts We Can Barely Carry – Songs fromJohn F. Kennedy’s Trip to Ireland Kennebunkport: The Kennebunkport Historical Society is pleased to present a live concert with film written and performed by Irish musician Kevin Farley of York, Maine. Gifts We Can Barely Carry: Songs from JFK’s Ireland Trip is scheduled for two performances on Wednesday, November 9 at 7PM and Sunday, November 13 at 1PM at the Town House School located at 135 North Street, Kennebunkport, Maine. Tickets are $15 for members / $18 for non-members and available by clicking HERE. Throughout this lively and informative...

Sculptor, Artist, Shipwright, and community friend, Frank Handlen is turning 105 years old at the end of September and the Kennebunkport Historical Society is honoring his commitment to our community with a lecture followed by an open house reception and fundraising auction at the Townhouse School. On Friday, October 1, 2021, former Society President and long-time stakeholder, Peter Whalen, will honor Frank Handlen with a lecture about his life, his work, and his long-time commitment to the Kennebunkport community. The Society will flank the schoolhouse with its collection of Frank Handlen original pieces as an exhibit. Frank has generously offered...

To check out our Fall Newsletter, click HERE!

Dear Kennebunkport Historical Society Members, Please mark your calendars for the Society’s Annual meeting 2021: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 135 North St. Kennebunkport, ME 04046 6:00 PM All participants must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. A postcard invitation has been mailed to all up-to-date members. Our email list includes members whose memberships may have lapsed. If you are wondering if your membership is up to date, please give us a call at the office. We are in the process of switching over database systems and want to make certain that our records are pristine so kindly let us...

Dear Kennebunkport Historical Society Members, It is with humility, gratitude, and excitement that I join the team at the Kennebunkport Historical Society. I appreciate how many of you welcomed me. I look forward to stewarding the mission of preserving Kennebunkport’s history and begin by asking for your support. This year has been challenging for so many, and nonprofits are no exception. The Kennebunkport Historical Society ceased operations, fundraising events were canceled, and the newly renovated schoolhouse was never utilized for private functions, live music, and lectures. Through these troubled times, our team pressed on. It is with gratitude to so...

The Kennebunkport Historical Society is pleased to announce an intergenerational video project designed to capture the oral history of Kennebunkport by interviewing its oldest citizens. “We are so excited about this project and all of its possibilities,” shared Kristin Haight, executive director, “by collecting oral histories and connecting with Kennebunkport’s elders, we will be able to deepen our understanding of recent history and create valuable first-hand stories and images for future generations.” The project will launch in September 2021 with the call for citizens over 100 years old. Frank Handlen, for example, a beloved Kennebunkport artist, sculptor, and community friend...

Kennebunkport Historical Society Selects New Executive Director   For immediate release, the Board of Directors of the Kennebunkport Historical Society have selected their new Executive Director to lead the day to day and operational activities for the society.  Kristin Lewis Haight, a local Kennebunk resident, bringing 30 years professional experience, has accepted the challenge. Haight is very familiar with Southern Maine. Originally from Massachusetts, spent her summers as child in Ogunquit, raised her children in York, and today is happy to call Kennebunk her home. Her experience and accomplishments over the years include co-ownership of the award-winning Clay Hill Farm restaurant in...