Bowman-Carney House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bowman-Carney House
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Bowman-Carney House in 1936
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bowman Ln., off 128, Dresden, Maine |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1762 |
| Architect | Flagg, Gersham |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000071 |
| Added to NRHP | April 7, 1971 |
The Bowman-Carney House is a very old and important house in Dresden, Maine. It was built way back in 1762. That was when the area was just starting to be settled by colonists. Later, this house was even used as an office for a business that harvested ice! Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 7, 1971.
Contents
What Does the House Look Like?
The Bowman-Carney House sits on the eastern side of the Kennebec River. It's about 1,200 feet (366 meters) from Route 197 and Route 128. Five of its seven acres are open land. This gives it a great view of the river.
House Design and Features
The house is two-and-a-half stories tall. It is made of wood and has a classic look. It has a special kind of roof called a hip roof. There are two chimneys inside the house. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The house sits on a strong stone foundation.
The front of the house faces the river. The back faces Route 128. Both sides look almost the same. Each has a main door in the middle. These doors are decorated with columns and a triangular shape above them. A smaller, one-story part of the house extends to one side. This part was likely added later.
Inside the Historic Home
When you go inside, you can still see many things from the 1700s. The floors are made of wide "pumpkin pine" wood. There is also old wood paneling on the walls. The decorations and trim inside are original. They show how homes looked long ago.
A Look Back in Time: The House's History
The town of Dresden was once part of a bigger area called Pownalborough. This area was settled in 1754. It became an official town in 1760. Pownalborough was the first main town for Lincoln County.
Built for a Key Citizen
The Bowman-Carney House was built in 1762. It was made for a man named Jonathan Bowman. A skilled local builder, Gersham Flagg, constructed it. Flagg had also recently built the Pownalborough Courthouse. Jonathan Bowman was a very important person in the community. He was a judge. He also ran many important local businesses.
From Blacksmith to Ice Business
Later, in the 1800s, the house belonged to James Carney. He was a blacksmith. His work helped support the ships and trade on the river. The property was then used for an ice harvesting business. The house became the office. Large sheds for storing ice were built along the river. This ice business was very popular in the 1870s. But it stopped being profitable by the early 1900s.
Preserving History
After the ice business ended, the house was bought by the daughters of a historian. Their father was Henry Sweetser Burrage. They knew how important the house was. They helped to keep it safe and preserved.
Later, a friend of Ms. Burrage, William Waters, bought the home. He was born in Blakely, Georgia. Mr. Waters spent almost 40 years caring for and restoring the house. He even found most of the original furniture! This furniture was made in Boston in 1760. William Waters was an artist and a designer in New York. He owned successful businesses. Many family antiques, like a grandfather clock, also came to the house with him.
