Please help us find a way to save the Town House School in Kennebunkport!

The Kennebunkport Historical Society has decided to tear down the last one-room schoolhouse in our town. It was built in 1900.

A former student at the Town House School, above, says the Kennebunkport Historical Society erred in voting to tear down the town’s only remaining one-room schoolhouse. Photo courtesy of Luverne Preble Tinkham

I attended this school from kindergarten through seventh grade. My father and his five siblings also learned their ABC’s in this school.

On May 19, I attended a historical society workshop to listen to a special committee make sense out of the decision. The walls were bulging, rot and black mold present in the historic treasure.

There were five members (yes, only five) present listening to a committee that already had their minds made up. It would cost $10,000 to tear it down.

We asked them to please slow down so we might find a way to preserve the school.

The old-timer needs help, and that is why we were there.

The committee had done their homework, and the idea was to talk us into believing that the school could not be saved. Well, I did not buy it!

Another society meeting followed, with 35-plus members attending to vote on the future of their properties. The question: removal of the Town House School building.

The majority voted “yes,” several abstained and I was the only one to say “no.”

To quote Joyce Butler, our local historian: “Everyone is saddened that the schoolhouse has to be taken down. It doesn’t have to be! The will to save it; creative thinking; committed leadership by the society and the town officials; financial support by local businesses, especially those that benefit from tourism; and the enthusiastic support of town residents in general, not just the society’s membership, can save it.”

Luverne Preble Tinkham

Kennebunkport

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