Brick Store Museum facts for kids
Brick Store Museum
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| Established | 1936 |
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| Location | 117 Main Street, Kennebunk, Maine 04043 |
| Founder | Edith Cleaves Barry |
The Brick Store Museum is a cool place in Kennebunk, Maine. It's special because it opened way back in 1936, during a tough time called the Great Depression. The museum works to save and share the history of the Kennebunks area. It does this by collecting, taking care of, and showing old objects.
This museum is a center for history and art in Southern Maine. Its collections include many different things. You can see paintings from the 1800s, tools used to build ships, and even clothes from the 1700s. The museum is located in the middle of the Kennebunk Historic District. It uses several old buildings on Main Street, covering a large area. These buildings are the oldest business block in Kennebunk. They were built between 1810 and 1860. Before they became part of the museum, they were used for many things. They were once a library, a telegraph office, a furniture store, and even a grocery store.
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History of the Museum Buildings
The Brick Store Museum is made up of several historic buildings. Each one has its own interesting story.
The Original Brick Store
In 1825, a rich merchant and ship owner named William Lord built a general store. He made it out of bricks, which was unusual for Kennebunk back then. So, people called it "Lord's Brick Store." You can still see a large wooden crane inside the museum. It was used to move goods between floors.
In 1936, William Lord's great-granddaughter, Edith Cleaves Barry, inherited the Brick Store building. She decided to open the Brick Store Museum there. It was one of the few museums in America that opened during the Great Depression and World War II.
Other Historic Buildings
Right next to the Brick Store is a building built in 1810. A local tobacco seller named Enoch Hardy built it. He had his shop upstairs, and the first floor was a grocery store. This building also used to be Kennebunk's post office and telegraph office. The Kennebunk Free Library was once here too.
The next building on the block was built in 1860 by Samuel Clark. It was first a butcher shop and restaurant. Later, it became a store that sold car parts.
The building on the corner, which is now a salmon color, was built in 1814 by Moses Savary. It was originally white. Most buildings in Kennebunk were yellow at the time, so this one was known as "the white store." It was almost always a market until it became part of the museum.
Edith Barry bought these three buildings as they became available. The last one was bought in 1958. Eventually, all four buildings were connected inside. This made them one big museum complex.
The Dane Street House
The museum complex also includes a fifth building at 4 Dane Street. The Barry family gave this house to the museum. It was built in the 1800s. Today, the museum uses it for programs and to store some of its collections.
What the Museum Collects
The museum's collections show many parts of the region's history. They cover everything from the first settlements to today. Most of the 35,000 objects are from the 1800s and 1900s. But there are also some older pieces from the 1600s and 1700s.
Art and Everyday Items
The museum has beautiful art and decorative items. These include works by famous artists from northern New England. You can see paintings by Thomas Badger, John Brewster, Jr., and Abbott Fuller Graves. The museum also has special collections of old fabrics, clothing, and household goods. There are also many items related to the sea and ships.
The museum also has items connected to famous Maine authors. These include Sarah Orne Jewett, Kenneth Roberts, and Booth Tarkington.
Old Papers and Photos
The museum has a very strong collection of old papers and documents. There are about 25,000 pieces! These include old letters, business records, and photographs. You can also find old glass negatives, postcards, maps, and building plans. These items are available for people to study and are used in museum exhibits.
Programs and Special Events
The museum offers many programs for people of all ages in New England.
Fun Activities
- They have craft workshops where you can make things.
- There are lecture series where you can learn about history.
- They also have special events just for museum members.
- During school breaks, like summer and February vacation, they offer camps for children.
Yearly Celebrations
The museum also puts on special events each year. In 2011, they celebrated their 75th Anniversary. They have an annual "All Souls Walk and Dinner" for Halloween. At the end of the year, they host a Holiday Tea at a historic home in Kennebunk.
Online Fun
You can also find the museum online! They have two Twitter accounts that follow the travels of their founder, Edith Barry. They also hold a yearly digital photography contest. Plus, you can explore many online exhibits on their website.
Museum Updates
The museum's four Main Street buildings had big renovations in 2008 and 2009. This was part of a special fundraising effort. The museum stayed open during this time, but some parts were closed temporarily. All the collections were carefully packed and moved within the museum. The renovations were finished in the summer of 2009.
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Brick Store Museum
