River Tree Arts History

Where Creativity Inspires Community

River Tree Arts was founded in 1982 by like-minded members of the South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport, Maine. The donation of an Elmont S. Tyndale piano, coupled with international concert performers summering in the Kennebunks who needed a place to rehearse, and an acoustically inviting church sanctuary were the ingredients for the beginning of a summer concert series.

It was from the double apple tree bordering the Kennebunk River, adjacent to the South Congregational Church, that the newly formed organization took its name.

The first series of summer concerts included a dedication to the Tyndale piano and featured Mrs. Lois Anderson Stein (soprano), Mr. Keith McClelland on piano, and Mr. Wesley Boynton (tenor) in a program of inspired music. Later in the summer, the Dirigo Brass Quintet played a concert billed as “A Lemonade Matinee on the lawn by the incoming tide.”

Following the 1982 concert series, River Tree Arts with the Kennebunkport Merchants Association, sponsored a Christmas Concert, again featuring the Dirigo Brass Quintet, as part of the Merchants Association first Annual Prelude Weekend.

As the years passed and the number of programs outgrew the space at the church, River Tree Arts was launched as an independent 501 © (3) non profit organization.

Eleanor Dow, the first Director, wrote in one of her early reports, “River Tree Arts is especially fortunate in the multi-talented communities it wishes to serve. The unique resources at our disposal permit us to dream about poetry and drama, folk dancing, fiddling contests, floating bands, Punch & Judy Shows, jugglers on the lawn and even silent movies with live accompaniment—anything in short that our imagination and resources will allow.”

River Tree Arts is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit.