By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

A parcel of private property long debated as the first permanent settlement in Kennebunk may finally receive proper recognition.
Town Historian Kathy Ostrander and Bicentennial Committee Chairman Steve Spofford have conducted research with Joyce Butler, former town historian, on what is known as the Larrabee Garrison site.
Ostrander and Spofford gave Kennebunk Selectmen a presentation on research that indicates the site of a long-vanished garrison, a fortified enclosure, was indeed the first permanent settlement. They would like a change in zoning law to recognize the land’s significance.
The land is marked with a granite monument and plaque erected by local historian William Barry in 1908. It is located on private property on Sea Road and inaccessible to the public. Barry marked six other sites in the area and based his research on historic writing and what was still visible at the time.
Ostrander said she wants the site to be formally recognized in case housing or businesses are developed there. The recognition would allow for an archaeological survey in advance to future development on the property.
“We’re mostly looking for ways to protect down the road against development. When the current land owner decides to sell it, someone will come forward and want to develop it,” Ostrander said.
Kennebunk does not require archeological surveys for historic properties, but Ostrander wants to change the permitting process to protect historic areas.
While the property owner supports historic preservation, she wants her privacy respected and requests no one trespass on the property to see the monument, Ostrander said.
The book “Ancient History of Kennebunk” by Edward E. Bourne mentions the garrison and indicates the first house in the garrison was built for William Larrabee in 1714.
“This and the house of John Look, were, as they were termed in those days, garrison houses. A wall was built around each of them of large timber,” he wrote in the book.
According to the historians, Larrabee survived six Indian wars, but lost two families. In 1713, the district of Maine gave him a grant for 150 acres of land from Sea Road down to the ocean.
“It is my feeling as well as Kathy’s that 25 feet around the monument is protected for the grave of Larrabee,” Spofford said.
When the monument was constructed, the graves of Larrabee, his son and grandson were still visible, along with other headstones not visible now, Ostrander said.
Three years ago, Ostrander and Spofford invited the board for a walking tour of the site.
Several selectmen, who remembered the walk or had been to the site on their own, questioned whether a large mound near the Larrabee monument could be an Indian burial ground.
“If it’s Indian burial ground the government would be involved. [We’re] not just talking about town history, we’re looking at the surrounding area as well,” Selectmen Robert Higgins said at the meeting.
Selectman also questioned how to pay for the survey and if there was a possibility of receiving grant money for the archeological dig.
The planning board will review the request to change the zoning ordinance, but Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said changes may not be complete until November due to planning board and Town Meeting deliberations.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.