An evening of history and storytelling for the community will take place Wednesday, July 1, at 7 p.m. at Atlantic Hall in Cape Porpoise. “Of Town and Country” is part of a community celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The event is co-sponsored by the Brick Store Museum, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and Atlantic Hall.
Event organizers say they planned the event to share elements of Kennebunkport’s history not widely known by visitors or even long-term residents.
“You know, there have been other events related to Kennebunkport’s role in the revolution,” said Thom Putnam, Kennebunkport Conservation Trust board member. “We wanted to do something different – capture other moments throughout our 250-year history, at the 250th anniversary.” Putnam will be speaking on “Heirs to that First History: JFK and EB White.”“I think the main goal is simply to have the community come together and hear these stories,” Putnam said.
Cynthia Walker, executive director of the Brick Store Museum, will speak to the role women have played in preserving history over the past 250 years.
“Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, was saved by a group of women in the mid-19th century. They all came together and literally wrote this letter to Congress and said, if the men aren’t going to save this country, then the women will save it,” Walker said. “I wanted to highlight the role of women in this kind of behind-the-scenes role of making sure history continues onward.”
Walker says she hopes participants leave the event with a personal connection to history.
Other speakers from the community will highlight notable area residents. Ben Grabin will share the story of Lucy Nicolar Poolaw, born on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation in 1882. Poolaw, who sold indigenous crafts and performed as a dancer in Kennebunkport as a child, later rose to prominence as an activist and spokesperson for the Wabanaki people and other tribal nations.
Joe Foster will share stories of four graduates of Kennebunk High School from the class of 1940 who went off to fight in World War II, and the effect their war service had on them and their families.
Tom Bradbury, Kennebunkport Conservation Trust executive director, will share the story of the reenactment of the Revolutionary War Battle of Cape Porpoise, which he helped organize 50 years ago for the nation’s bicentennial in 1976.
“I see the Atlantic Hall event weaving together a lot of different threads of history into people’s everyday lives,” Walker said. “The work of the museum is always about making sure people connect to the past in a really personal way. That’s definitely what I hope people come away with: a personal connection to one or many of the stories that are going to be told that evening.”
The event is free and open to the public and will be followed by a celebratory reception. Donations to Atlantic Hall are always welcomed. While reservations are not required, those planning to attend are asked to register in advance at http://www.brickstoremuseum.org/calendar, so that sufficient accommodations can be made.
