Kent, Louise Andrews, 1886-1969

Louise Andrews Kent was born about 1887 in Brookline, Mass. She married Rich Kent in 1912. She became a newspaper columnist and author of children's books and cookbooks, assuming the persona of "Mrs. Appleyard," to write a series of New England cookbooks. A resident of Brookline, Kent spent summers in Calais, Vt. Louise Andrews Kent died in 1969.

Louise "Lulie" Andrews Kent, was born May 25, 1886, in Brookline, Massachusetts. She married Ira Rich Kent (1876-1945) in 1912 and they had three children, Elizabeth "Kenty" (1913-1985), Hollister "Sam" (1916-1974), and Rosamond "Posy" (b. 1922). Educated at Simmons College, Louise Kent's writing career began as a newspaper columnist under the pen name, "Theresa Tempest," for the Boston Traveler. She then authored numerous books of children's fiction, including the popular "He Went with..." series, and adult fiction and non-fiction works. Later in her career, she assumed the persona of "Mrs. Appleyard" to write a series of New England cookbooks, beginning with Mrs. Appleyard's Year in 1941. Her autobiography, Mrs. Appleyard and I, was published in 1968.

Ira "Rich" Kent's family was from Calais, Vermont, about ten miles north of Montpelier. He was descended from Remember Kent (1775-1855) of Rehoboth, Mass., an early settler of Calais in an area of town that became known as Kents Corner. His family spent summers there at their home, the "White House." The setting provided inspiration for Louise Kent's many "Mrs. Appleyard" stories. The family's primary residence was in Brookline, Massachusetts, until 1959, when Louise Kent became a full-time resident of Vermont, fifteen years after her husband's death. Louise Kent was a member of the board of trustees of the Vermont Historical Society during the 1950s. She was instrumental in suggesting that Atwater Kent (1873-1949) acquire and donate the historic Kent Tavern to the Society for preservation as a museum. The Tavern and the surrounding area became a historic site, the "Kents Corner-Old West Church Historic District," in 1976. Louise Andrews Kent died on August 5, 1969.