Centennial Programs

Heroes of the Library     Decade by Decade     Centennial Parade and Rededication Ceremonies     Centennial Gala

Heroes of the Library
On the second Thursday of each month, the York County Coast Star, will run a column entitled "Heroes of the Library." Read about the people past and present who have had a significant impact on the Kennebunk Free Library during the last 100 years.

February:  Rev. Edmund Worth, "Father of the Library"
March: Andrew Walker, "Heroes Live on at the Library"
April: George Parsons, "Heroes of the Library"
May: Peter Fuller, "Heroes of the Library"
June: Janet Welch, "Heroes of the Library"
July: Larry Dwight, "Heroes of the Library"
August: Friends of the Kennebunk Free Library, "Heroes of the Library"
September: Library Directors, "Heroes of the Library"
October: The Newtons, "Heroes of the Library"
November:  Elmina Sewall, "Heroes of the Library"
December:  Ellie Dunham, "Heroes of the Library"

Decade by Decade
As you come into the Library, check out the entryway display case on your right. We are featuring a retrospective of each of the ten decades in the Library's history.  Learn about what went on in the Library and discover interesting tidbits about the world in general, such as what was on the best sellers list at the time.

February: 1900-1909 - From Blueprint to Reality
March: 1910-1919  -  Marching Through the Decade
April: 1920-1929 - Roaring Twenties
May: 1930-1939  -  In the Maine Woods
June: 1940-1949  -  Kennebunk Goes to War
July: 1950-1959  -  Postwar Picket Fences
August/September: 1960-1969  -  Peace, Love and Libraries
October: 1970-1989  -  Greatest Hits of the 70's and 80's
November/December: 1990 and beyond - The Expansion

Centennial Parade and Rededication Ceremonies - August 4, 2007

On a very hot Saturday, August 4^th, 2007, the townspeople and visitors to Kennebunk gathered along Main Street to watch a grand parade, celebrating the centennial of the dedication of the Library's building.  The parade showed the spirit that the Library brings to this community. Many patrons, as well as Trustees, staff, and descendants of benefactor George Parsons, marched up Main Street.  Following the parade, the community gathered at the Town Hall for a re-enactment of the original 1907 dedication ceremonies. Those gathered hear about the vision of the Library's founders and how true their words still ring today.  The Seaglass Chorale sang songs from the original program and the ceremony concluded with "God Bless America."  From there the community joined together on the front lawn for the cutting of a giant birthday cake. It was the perfect end of a perfect day that tied the old to the modern.

Slideshow of Parade and Ceremonies
(Slideshow courtesy of Stephanie Limmer)

Centennial Gala - November 3, 2007

Centennial Gala an unqualified success!
Written by Kate Manahan 

What do you get when you cross a library with a swing band? 

 Last Saturday night bespangled women and men in black tie stepped out of the rain into a warm library transformed.  With shelves, books and computers removed from the central spaces there was room enough for dancing, socializing and a sit down dinner for over a hundred people.  Patrons, sponsors, trustees and friends gathered to formally top off the library’s Centennial year with a gala ball.

 Before dinner people visited with the piano music by Chris Humphrey setting the tone.  Why not try a decadent hors d’oeuvre of fig and goat cheese in pastry?  Guests spanned the ages, political parties, economic backgrounds but all shared a love of the library and that must be the golden ticket for a fun night out on the town.  Kitchen Chicks catered the event and after dinner The New Legacy Swing Band kicked in and people danced for the rest of the evening.

 Throughout the library’s history there have been those who fought to make it a public library (Edmund Worth), those who gave their entire worth to the cause (Andrew Walker), and one man (George Parsons) who built the building and gave the keys to the Kennebunk Library Association.  Since those formative years there have been hundreds of other loving hands that have cared for the building and the institution, many of whom were present at the gala and glowing in the energy of the unusual community event.

 Looking from one end of the stately hall to the other with a former trustee I realized that there were people in attendance who raised the funds, hired the builders and led the way through the building expansion in the 1990's, a huge labor of love.  Likewise,  there were people in attendance who have since moved to Kennebunk expressly for their attraction to the library.  This knowledge of having made something that others truly appreciate is decidedly satisfying. It was one of those moments, that life sometimes offers, when everything seems stunningly clear.  In Kennebunk there is a rich legacy of nurturing and enjoying our local library. 

 Please come in and enjoy all that the library has to offer: materials, programs, independent films, computers, or a real crackling fire in the fireplace and a warm place to read the paper.  It is your library and we are committed to being there for you for the next hundred years.  You can also visit us any time at our website www.kennebunklibrary.org.

Slideshow of the Gala
(Photos courtesy of Linda Rose.  Slideshow courtesy of Stephanie Limmer)