Kennebunkport, ME - The Federal House - Shock and Awe

When I got married in 1988, the family tradition was to vacation in Kennebunkport, ME every year.  In the early days, we rented from Gooch’s Cabins.  Small efficiency cabins that were tiny but nice with a great location.  Eventually, we would rent 3 cabins for the week.  They ended up being purchased and converted to condos.

At that point, we started renting a house every summer that could accommodate our 3 families.  As families grew in numbers and kids grew physically bigger we needed to look at larger houses. 

When walking or driving to the beach we would pass “The Federal House” on the corner of Doanes Wharf Road and Beach Ave. 

In the early years of our vacations it was a house in disrepair with vines growing up all over the unpainted exterior, a terribly overgrown yard, etc.  It was a real eyesore.  I bet the interior was a mess also.  It was sold and the property was completely transformed inside and out.

It had become a bit of a landmark being the big yellow house with the iron fence you would pass on the way to the beach.  It had a flag painted on the side of the garage. 

We started renting The Federal House in 2013 for our vacation.  This is a bit of the history I know of the house from asking the owners.

The Federal House was built in 1765 making it the 2nd oldest house in the area.  It has 6 bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms, a 3 car detached garage with a flag on one side, a wrought iron fence around it, with the property going to the cove connecting to the Kennebec River. 

In the early years, the cove was dredged to the property and they would tie up schooners to protect them from storms.  That is now the flat part of the backyard just behind the garage.  We were able to launch kayaks and have fun in the water when the tide was coming in.   The location was ideal with a short walk to the beach, into town, etc.  You could park your car and would not need to drive anywhere to enjoy the area.

We rented this house for a week every summer from 2013 to 2019.  During our time renting, the owners gave each of us a mug they had made up to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of The Federal House.  The house was sold in 2019.

Because of COVID, etc. we did not have our KPT family vacation this year (2020).  Pam and I took a day trip to Kennebunkport in late July.  I told her if we see anyone when we drive by The Federal House I want to stop and say hello, introduce ourselves, and let them know we would be interested in talking if they end up renting the house.

SHOCK AND AWE … As we approached we saw a dumpster and an excavator … the house was torn down and the garage was gone … WOW.  The dumpster, the pile of dirt, and the excavator in these last photos are sitting where the house used to be.  

It was such a great house.  There was so much history there.  I am surprised the town would approve a tear down with that kind of history.  I sure hope they reclaimed all of the interior wood trim and molding, etc.

It will be interesting to see what is built in its place.  Who knows if it will be residential or commercial.

We have such fond memories of our family time in that house.  Our family memories will live on along with my pictures.  It was and is all about family and friends …