History of Arundel (Unsure of author(s)) tells us that "Arundel, Maine is a small town in York County, Maine." The town of Arundel is considered a town of many names. Arundel was originally known as part of Cape Porpus from 1653 to 1719. (Name changed to Cape Porpoise)

In 1681, a written description of the town's boundaries was prepared. Cape Porpoise had lost and gained land, shifting to the east. The town extended eight miles inland, between the Kennebunk and Little rivers. Livelihoods were gained from fishing, farming, and building masts for ships. There is today evidence of the earliest sawmills and a gristmill.

In 1681 the first Mill Grant was issued and along River Road, 100 acre lots were deeded. At that time as well, Native Americans, believed to be Micmacs, inhabited the area. From the region of Walkers Lane, where Goff Mill Brook crosses River Road, near the Cape Arundel Golf Course, there were at least five mills and a brickyard. Most of the mills were saw mills, but one became a fulling mill where thread was made from cotton and the Goff's Brook Mill became a Gristmill.

An area along the Kennebunk River was known as Indian Planting Ground. Prior to 1680, it is believed the Native Americans used this as their summer residence.

The prominent livelihood at the time was fishing and boat building. Some very large boats came from the boat yard along the river. Locks were set in place at various points, to allow construction of larger ships at the boat yards. these early industries thrived along the Kennebunk River well into the 1800's and 1900's. In the l900's a boat building School. This boat building school on the River Rd is still there in 2020.

The Indian Wars, 1680 to 1720, caused evacuation of the town. After hostilities ended,the town was re-establised with the new name Arundel. Each returning settler was given a parcel of land in return for providing needed skills and service. Within a few years a major settlement was created by giving 100 acre lots to sons and young men on the Saco Rd. (now known as Route 1A) This created a buffer between the old village (Kennebunkport), and the Native Americans, while providing the young families with the gift of land. The community built a garrison on the Saco Road to further protect them from raids. As the town became more secure, settlement extended upstream along the river. Also during this time period, a conflict arose with land titles. On the northeast town line was what is now named Biddeford. Biddeford grants started at the Saco River and ran southwest four miles, coming well into Arundel and conflicting with the new grants here. The courts ruled that the Biddeford owners still owned the land by prior right, but that it was now Arundel and the taxes were payable to Arundel. This accounts for the number of lots in town with long southwest property lines.

As the northwestern part of the town continued to attact residents, cultural amenities followed. A Baptist church was built on the parcel which is currently the Town Hall. The structure, which currently serves as the Town Hall was originally erected in the 1800's as a social hall known as Parvo Hall. A New Town Hall is being built on a nearby parcel of land.

In 1820, Maine was separated from Massachusetts and its became its own. The first Maine Legislature approved the town's request for a name change and Kennebunkport became the official name.

During the late eighteen hundreds arrived in southern Maine. This had two effects on Kennebunkport. The setttlement along the Burnham Road split in two and eventually disappeared. The railroad also brought "summer people", and contributed to the development of the coastal portion of the town.

By the turn of the century, the farmers and others in the rural portions of the felt they should not have to pay increased taxes to support services in the Cape Arundel area. The Legislature ageed to a separation, creating two towns, with the split becoming effective at the 1916 town meeting. The new municipality was called North Kennebunport.

North Kennebunkport was a rural town made up mostly of farms. Its population in the 1920 Census, the first it appears in as a separate town, was 564. It remained steady during the roaring twenties, increased dramatically (60%) during the depression decade, and remained fairly constant until the 1860's.

In 1957 the town voted to change its name back to Arundel. Bring the rural portion of a previous town, Arundel had no center of population or economic activity. Citizens traveled to neightering population centers to purchase goods and services. The increasing proportion of the population not dependent on farming or forestry for their income also traveled to jobs in these areas. In the past thirty years, it has been transformed from a rural town of dairy farmers to a "suburban" community for workers in neighboring areas.

The Photo above has a sign that says "Byron Kimball Farm". The photo on the right is that of the cemetery of the farm. It has many of the Kimball Family buried there and the cemetery is well taken care of. This is a gem for genealogy searchers.

Lorenzo⁵ was the son of Aaron⁴ and Ester, who was the dau. of Benjamin and Abigail(Maddox)K. Aaron ⁴ was son of Richard³and Hannah (Rumery), of Lyman. Richard³ was the son of John². John² was the son of Richard¹ and Rachel (Wakefield) K, of Kennebunk.

The STONE above is of Frank L. Kimball, b. 30 May 1878, died 1968 and wife Olive M (Lunt). They had two children: a son, Byron F. b.1911 d. 1981 and a Dau., Josephine O. b. 1903, d. 1970

The stone above on the left is Byron F. b. 1911 - d. 1981 and wife Celeste T. b. 1915 - d. 2013. The Stone on the right is Josephine (Kimball) Hill and husband Ernest Dudley Hill.

LOREN T. Kimball, b. 22 Sep 1947, the son of Byron and Celeste T. Kimball. He graduated from Sanford High School in 1965 and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was employed by Cianbro Construction Co., Portland. He died 2 Sept.1981, as a result of injuries obtained from a construction accident. He was survived by his wife, Mary David Kiamball, a son, Bradley, and four daughters, Laura Kimball, Emily Kimball, Amanda Kimball and Rebecca Kimball and his mother and two brothers, Col. Frank T Kimball of Tuscpm. Ariz. and John B. Kimall of Lyman; and four sisters, Mildred A. Mitchell of N.H., and Ellen Daniels of Arundel, Katherine E. North of Vt., and Celeste Norris of S.C.

The Stone above is of Chas W. Kimball, a Civil War Veteran. His paper says CO., 27th ME. INF. I am trying to get more info on this. There are no dates of birth, death or service dates on the stone.

Abbie C. the daughter of Joseph and Sally C. Kimball of Kennebunk. Abbie C. married Wm. Durrell of Arundel. They had one child, named Fannie Durrell, stone below.

This the only picture I have found to date of Harold as a young man in school. He is the young man in this football picture standing on the far right. The uniforms leave a little to desire.

Click here to return to Kennebunk.

Harold and Irene owned a convenience store in Arundel and a "Store on Wheels" which traveled thoughout Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. Harold did not have military servise because he was classified 4F, and did not service with his three brothers in WWII. Irene and my mother Jessie were very hard workers. They shared the care of our Grandfather Horace E Kimball 3 months turns. That was very differcult considering there were several other of his children in the area that would not or could not take him. Ronald married Murial Beauchemin, born 3/19/1938 and died 5/18/2017.

TAKE A BREAK, ENJOY THE MINITURE GOLF AT RAPTOR FALL ROUTE #1, ARUNDEL, ME. ((OH YES!)) DON'T FORGET THE ICE CREAM STAND .

All Dinosaurs pictured here and many others below, are on the RAPTOR FALLS miniture golf course and Ice Cream stand - RT.1, Arundel, ME. What a treat for young people! and young at heart!!!.

There are many, many other individual antique dealers in our area. Don't overlook the many other business on the road in Arundel. This includes a the very large GMC and FORD auto dealership of, "ARUNDEL AUTO". Also you will find many small Resturants include, Pizzerias, BENTLEY's Saloon and Campground (the favorite of motorcycle riders).

Many thanks to all of Copy-it Staff and Owner. They can and have done many wonderful thing for me and for the Kimball Family Asso. They do more things: sizing, enlargement, very small size or very large(blueprints) copies, lamination and more. See the phone number and tell them I sent you. 482 Elm St. Biddeford.