The Museum in the Streets®: Kennebunk, Maine Historical Markers

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 14, 2021

The Nathaniel Frost Home / La Maison de Nathaniel Frost Marker

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1 ► Maine, York County, Kenenbunk — 8 — The Nathaniel Frost Home / La Maison de Nathaniel Frost — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This Federal home was built in 1799 for Nathaniel Frost by Thomas Eaton who was responsible for many residential and commercial buildings in Kennebunk. The original building on this lot was built by Theodore Lyman in 1770 and later . . . — — Map (db m186320) HM

2 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 15 — Boston & Maine R.R. Depot / La gare du Boston & Maine — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

This depot was constructed in 1872 when the Boston & Maine Railroad operated a branch line between Portland and South Berwick, Maine. It is an example of Stick-style architecture. During the late 1800, tourists to the area were met . . . — — Map (db m186335) HM

3 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 9 — Brick Store Museum Block / Les Bâtiments du Brick Store Museum — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

This quartet of buildings, which now forms the Brick Store Museum, was operated as separate businesses throughout the decades. The brick building was erected in 1825 by wealthy merchant and ship owner, William Lord. In 1936 Lord's . . . — — Map (db m186324) HM

4 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 10 — First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church / Première église paroissiale Unitarienne Universaliste — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

This church was built in 1772-1773 on land donated by Colonel Joseph Storer, to house the congregation originally located at the Kennebunk Landing. The church was enlarged by Thomas Eaton in 1803 and the bell tower was constructed. . . . — — Map (db m186323) HM

5 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 21 — Hugh McCulloch Home / La demeure Hugh McCulloch — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

The Hugh McCulloch home was actually built in 1787 for Tomas Wiswell. The home ha a massive center chimney and three upstairs bedrooms have hinged walls which can be swung upward and secured to the ceiling to create a large ballroom. . . . — — Map (db m186345) HM

6 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — Map — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

Welcome to Kennebunk The Native American word “Kennebunk” means “long cut bank” and likely refers to Great Hill at the mouth of the Mousam River which would have been an important landmark to those traveling the coast in their . . . — — Map (db m186306) HM

7 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — Map — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

Welcome to Kennebunk The Native American word “Kennebunk” means “long cut bank” and likely refers to Great Hill at the mouth of the Mousam River which would have been an important landmark to those traveling the coast in their . . . — — Map (db m186327) HM

8 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 14 — Park Street School / L'École Secondaire de Park Street — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

The first school to be built on this site was called Union Academy. Built by subscription in 1833 it functioned as a school for those students near the center of town until it was consumed by fire in 1870. The next structure was . . . — — Map (db m186332) HM

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9 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 6 — The Bourne Mansion / La Résidence Bourne — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This three-story federal home was built in 1812 for John Usher Parsons and his bride Susanna Savary. Mr. Parsons died soon after in 1815. The home was then purchased in 1815. The home was then purchased in 1816 by Daniel Sewall, . . . — — Map (db m186318) HM

10 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 23 — The Butland Shipyard and Cemetery / Le chantier naval Butland et le Cimetière — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

More than 20 vessls were built on the Mousm River between the years of 1760 and 1790. Most vessels were built here at what was then "The John Butland Shipyard." The largest vessel weighed nearly 240 tons. Many of the earliest . . . — — Map (db m186348) HM

11 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 12 — The Dr. Lemuel Richards Home / La Demeure Dr. Lemuel Richards — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

The Dr. Lemuel Richards home was originally built in 1800 for William Taylor who lived here until 1815. After suffering financial losses, due to the War of 1812, Taylor sold the home to William Hackett and Timothy Frost who were . . . — — Map (db m186326) HM

12 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 17 — The George Wise Home / La demeure George Wise — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

This Second Empire style home with mansard roof was built for merchant George Wise in 1868 just three years after the Civil War ended. This home occupies the site which was previously owned by George's father, Captain Daniel Wise, . . . — — Map (db m186338) HM

13 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 7 — The Horace Porter Home / La Maison d'Horace Porter — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This Greek Revival home was built by Beniah Littlefield for Horace Porter in 1848. The land was originally owned by Horace’s father, Joseph Porter, who operated a tin shop on the premises. Horace was a wealthy merchant who had this . . . — — Map (db m186319) HM

14 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 16 — The James Hubbard Home / La demeure James Hubbard — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

This Colonial Saltbox home was built c.1750 making it one of a handful of colonial homes still left standing in Kennebunk. It was built for Captain James Hubbard who was originally from Berwick, Maine. Hubbard commanded of a company . . . — — Map (db m186339) HM

15 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 3 — The Lafayette Center / Le Centre Lafayette — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

Numerous manufacturers have occupied this site throughout Kennebunk’s history. Since the first settlement of Kennebunk in the mid 1600s, until now, the Mousam River has been the site of many industries including sawmills, textile and . . . — — Map (db m186307) HM

16 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 20 — The Landing / The Landing (le quai) — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

The depression in the bank across the street is one of the last visible remains of a once thriving shipbuilding industry which existed along the western banks of the Kennebunk River. Prior to 1790, most shipbuilding was done on the . . . — — Map (db m186344) HM

17 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 24 — The Larrabee Garrison / Le Fort Larrabee — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

Near this spot stood the Larrabee Garrison which was constructed between 1714 - 1722 by William and Stephen Larrabee. It embraced more than an acre of ground and had thick timber walls. Within the walls were five houses. During times . . . — — Map (db m186347) HM

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18 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 2 — The Mousam River / Le Fleuve Mousam — Kennebunk, ME — The Museum in the Streets —

It is believed that the Mousam River takes its name from an Indian word, but the true meaning of the word has long been lost. Some speculate that “Mousam” means “Moose”. The face of the river front has changed over the years, as is . . . — — Map (db m186302) HM

19 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 5 — The Ross Block and The Kennebunk Inn / Le Bâtiment Ross et l'Auberge de Kennebunk — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This brick building was built by Dr. Frank Ross in 1885 following destructive fires which destroyed the two previous wooden buildings that stood here. This brick building, originally only two stories tall, initially housed Dr. Ross’s . . . — — Map (db m186310) HM

20 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 4 — The Storer Residence / La Résidence Storer — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This home was constructed in 1758 by Joseph Storer and his wife Hannah. Storer was the wealthiest man in Kennebunk at the time and owned a saw mill, country store and grist mill. He entered into the Revolutionary War in 1777. He was . . . — — Map (db m186308) HM

21 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 19 — The Wedding Cake House / La maison du 'Gâteau de Mariage' — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

Originally this Federal style, brick home was undadorned when built by George Washington Bourne in 1826. The main structure is brick. Following a fire in 1852 which destroyed the original barn, Bourne decided to rebuild it. He added . . . — — Map (db m186343) HM

22 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 1 — Wallingford Hall — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets —

This Federal home was designed by Thomas Eaton in 1804 for George W. Wallingford. George Wallingford was born in 1775 and was a graduate of Harvard College in 1795. He was admitted to the bar in 1798 and began practicing law in . . . — — Map (db m186301) HM

23 ► Maine, York County, Kennebunk — 13 — Zion's Hill / Zion's Hill (La Colline Dorée) — Kennebunk, Maine — The Museum in the Streets® —

The upper section of Summer Street was settled by wealthy ship builders and business men, many belonging to the Lord and Thompson families. It became known as "Zion's Hill" in 1833 when the sale of liquor was debated by the . . . — — Map (db m186334) HM