Library is link to past,
connection to future
This past Tuesday, members of the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library Association held their annual meeting in the Community Room. How often we walk through the old brick library taking only a passing interest in the portrait of Abbott Graves, who, along with his wife, Montie, dedicated the building to the town for its growing library in honor of their late son, Louis.

According Joyce Butler’s, “Kennebunkport, the Evolution of An American Town,” Abbott Graves offered the highest bid for the Custom House on June 1, 1921. He and his wife, Montie, then dedicated the building to the community’s Library Association in honor of their late son, Louis. Dan King / Kennebunk Post
As we head into 2025, I hope we can take a moment to think about how our community happened upon such a legacy a little over 100 years ago.
In 1921, Abbott and Montie Graves mourned the death of their son, Louis, who died from complications of influenza just as he was making his way as a journalist in Washington. The old Custom House, whose second floor was utilized as a public library, was finally going to be retired as a government building and sold at auction.
According Joyce Butler’s, “Kennebunkport, the Evolution of An American Town,” Abbott Graves offered the highest bid for the building on June 1, 1921. He and Montie then dedicated the building to the community’s Library Association in honor of their late son who loved books and reading in “what would be one of the most significant gifts ever made to the people of Kennebunkport.”
No matter where you live, we hope you’ll stop by the Louis T. Graves Memorial Library this year. It, like so many other parts of our special community, is a connection to our past and link to our future.
Sarah Vander Schaaff, vice president, board of trustees, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library
Kennebunkport
Generosity of Prelude
event is appreciated
Thank you to our friends and neighbors, and to the many visitors “from away,” for attending our pancake breakfast, chili luncheon, and chowder supper events during Prelude. Our fundraisers are by donation and your generosity this year exceeded our expectations.
The proceeds were earmarked for two worthy causes:

The Mary’s Firemen’s Ski Race takes place March 1 at Lost Valley in Auburn. The Kennebunkport Fired Department team will race down a slalom course in full turnout gear while carrying a 50-foot length of firehose. From left are Steve Slarsky, Tricia Concannon, Jim Concannon and Tim Good. Contributed / Kennebunkport Fire Department
1.) Kennebunkport’s general needs account to help struggling neighbors meet basic needs.
2.) Mary’s Firemen’s Ski Race for a Cure, to benefit the Dempsey Center’s cancer support programs.
The Mary’s Firemen’s Ski Race takes place on March 1, 2025, at Lost Valley, in Auburn. Our team of four firefighters will race down a slalom course in full turnout gear while carrying a 50-foot length of firehose.
Please consider sponsoring our team by sending a check to Mary’s Firemen’s Race for a Cure,” c/o KPFD, 32 North St., P.O. Box 505, Kennebunkport, ME 04046; or via a direct online donation at //support.dempseycenter.org/team/6201.
We’ll be serving pancakes again on Memorial Day, In the meantime, ensure your detectors are less than 10 years old, their batteries are fresh, and your house or business is clearly marked, preferably with large reflective numbers. Have a safe winter, and please keep those chimneys clean.
Joe Frank, coordinator, Community Service Team
Kennebunkport Fire Department
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