RAYMOND — Kicking-off with a celebratory Open House on Saturday, May 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. — to which the public is cordially invited — the boyhood home of the legendary author of The Scarlet Letterin Raymond (40 Hawthorne Road) will be transformed into a cozy, inviting events center available for everything from meetings to receptions to small weddings to crafts fairs to birthday parties and more, from May through September each year. 

The free Open House on May 7 will feature refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, and live music from popular singer-guitarist Gary Wittner from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The occasion will mark the successful completion of Phase 1 of The Hawthorne Community Association’s three-year-long effort to raise $75,000 to make urgent structural repairs to the building affectionately referred to as “the Hawthorne House.” Those funds enabled essential repair of the building’s foundation and other critical elements of its structure, as well as an attractive makeover of the interior into a cozy, welcoming meeting place. Phase 2 of the fundraising campaign will seek to raise an additional $30,000 to cover the costs of a new roof and new siding and painting.  

Event rentals at the Hawthorne House will help fund Phase 2 of the fundraising campaign. Rates are $25 per hour for nonprofits and Hawthorne Community Association members, and $50 per hour for nonmembers (minimum of two hours).    

To donate to Phase 2 of the effort to fully repair Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home, please consider a much-appreciated check payable to “Hawthorne Community Association,” PO Box 185, South Casco, ME 04077.PayPal donations may be made online at: https://www.hawthorneassoc.com.   

For more information, please contact Abel Bates at 207-318-7131 or jbates4@maine.rr.com.