Arundel looks to form official historical society (Printed Jan. 25, 2008)
By Stowell P. Watters
Staff Writer
If all goes as planned for Arundel Selectman Dana Peck and a group of nine other supporters, Arundel will soon have its own historical society.
“We want to compile our history and show people that as America grew, we were here, we contributed,” Peck said.
According to a statewide census completed in 2000, Arundel’s estimated populations of 3,571 as of 2000 and 4,068 as of 2006 makes it the ninth fastest growing community in Maine. Without a town historian or a historical society, Peck said, they are at an educational loss.
“It is just high time someone take action and get this resource up and running for the community,” Peck said.
The group has met twice and plans to hold open meetings the first Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. at the Arundel Fire Station. So far they have highlighted two major goals: the construction of a veteran’s war memorial and the cataloguing of historical homes.
For the former, Peck and the ad-hoc society are encouraging veterans and citizens alike to present the group with feedback. Arundel resident Melanie Mitchell is currently acting as the public relations correspondent for the group, and Peck is hoping veterans will respond by emailing their ideas so they can create a monument to honor veterans in town and worldwide. Her email address is mmitchell71@yahoo.com.
“We are asking veterans to take the lead to put together their ideas and plans for design and implementation,” Peck said. “We have had interest over the years from vets, but we don’t do anything in town, yet.”
Mitchell said an essential part of this project is collecting the records of families who have lived in Arundel because, as she just found out through nine years of genealogical research, her family traces back to Arundel after a period of out-of-state residence. “It is important for people to know their roots,” she said.
The group is asking anyone in Arundel, Kennebunk or Kennebunkport to send any historically charged photographs, newspaper clippings or informational pieces concerning the history of Arundel to Mitchell, as it will be their task to then sort the information and put together a timeline and possible publication for educational use.
Peck said although the group will operate separately from the town and have their own board of trustees, they will be speaking about the society during public commentary at selectmen’s meetings. He said, while they are still meeting at the fire station, he hopes the group someday has it’s own building to operate in.
Local historian Joyce Butler has done extensive work researching the history of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. According to her findings, Arundel was originally part of the area that is now Cape Porpoise (which is a part, subsequently, of Kennebunkport) from 1653-1719, as was the property eight miles inland between the Batson and Mousam rivers. During that time people made their living fishing, farming and building masts for ships and according to Butler, there exists today evidence of early saw and gristmills.
In 1719 Arundel separated from the land area of Cape Porpoise due to a shifting in the property lines. After a period of farmers experiencing increased taxes because of a growing tourist-based coastal economy, North Kennebunkport changed its name to Arundel and has remained separate from Kennebunkport and Kennebunk since 1957. Peck said the separation was largely due to the fishing and mercantile industry of the towns on the coast along with an increase in tourists brought by the development of railways in southern Maine, contrasted with the farming industry in areas of Arundel which were more inland.
“Over time a clear separation began to emerge, and we want to preserve the history of not only why we became Arundel, but how,” Peck said.
Currently Peck and the rest of the society members are working with a town attorney to examine the logistics of creating a historical society. Their next meeting will be Feb. 7.
To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
Staff Writer
If all goes as planned for Arundel Selectman Dana Peck and a group of nine other supporters, Arundel will soon have its own historical society.
“We want to compile our history and show people that as America grew, we were here, we contributed,” Peck said.
According to a statewide census completed in 2000, Arundel’s estimated populations of 3,571 as of 2000 and 4,068 as of 2006 makes it the ninth fastest growing community in Maine. Without a town historian or a historical society, Peck said, they are at an educational loss.
“It is just high time someone take action and get this resource up and running for the community,” Peck said.
The group has met twice and plans to hold open meetings the first Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. at the Arundel Fire Station. So far they have highlighted two major goals: the construction of a veteran’s war memorial and the cataloguing of historical homes.
For the former, Peck and the ad-hoc society are encouraging veterans and citizens alike to present the group with feedback. Arundel resident Melanie Mitchell is currently acting as the public relations correspondent for the group, and Peck is hoping veterans will respond by emailing their ideas so they can create a monument to honor veterans in town and worldwide. Her email address is mmitchell71@yahoo.com.
“We are asking veterans to take the lead to put together their ideas and plans for design and implementation,” Peck said. “We have had interest over the years from vets, but we don’t do anything in town, yet.”
Mitchell said an essential part of this project is collecting the records of families who have lived in Arundel because, as she just found out through nine years of genealogical research, her family traces back to Arundel after a period of out-of-state residence. “It is important for people to know their roots,” she said.
The group is asking anyone in Arundel, Kennebunk or Kennebunkport to send any historically charged photographs, newspaper clippings or informational pieces concerning the history of Arundel to Mitchell, as it will be their task to then sort the information and put together a timeline and possible publication for educational use.
Peck said although the group will operate separately from the town and have their own board of trustees, they will be speaking about the society during public commentary at selectmen’s meetings. He said, while they are still meeting at the fire station, he hopes the group someday has it’s own building to operate in.
Local historian Joyce Butler has done extensive work researching the history of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. According to her findings, Arundel was originally part of the area that is now Cape Porpoise (which is a part, subsequently, of Kennebunkport) from 1653-1719, as was the property eight miles inland between the Batson and Mousam rivers. During that time people made their living fishing, farming and building masts for ships and according to Butler, there exists today evidence of early saw and gristmills.
In 1719 Arundel separated from the land area of Cape Porpoise due to a shifting in the property lines. After a period of farmers experiencing increased taxes because of a growing tourist-based coastal economy, North Kennebunkport changed its name to Arundel and has remained separate from Kennebunkport and Kennebunk since 1957. Peck said the separation was largely due to the fishing and mercantile industry of the towns on the coast along with an increase in tourists brought by the development of railways in southern Maine, contrasted with the farming industry in areas of Arundel which were more inland.
“Over time a clear separation began to emerge, and we want to preserve the history of not only why we became Arundel, but how,” Peck said.
Currently Peck and the rest of the society members are working with a town attorney to examine the logistics of creating a historical society. Their next meeting will be Feb. 7.
To contact Stowell P. Watters, call 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.
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