Conway House (Camden, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Conway House
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House in 2016
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Conway Rd., Camden, Maine |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architectural style | Cape Cod |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000010 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 1969 |
The Conway House is a very old house and museum located in Rockport and Camden, Maine. It was likely built in the 1770s, making it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Knox County. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
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What Does the Conway House Look Like?
The Conway House is located right on the edge of Camden and Rockport, Maine. You can find it near United States Route 1. It is a one-and-a-half-story house made of wood.
The house has a classic "Cape style" design. It has four sections across the front and a chimney in the middle. It seems to have been built on top of an even older house's foundation. Some parts of the house's wooden frame still show tree bark. You can also see marks from axes and tools on the wood. This shows how the house was built long ago.
The History of Conway House
Who Built the Conway House?
The Conway House was built around 1770 by Robert Thorndike. He was one of the first European settlers in the Camden area. His son, Robert Jr., was born in the house in 1773. Robert Jr. was one of the first European children born in that region.
Robert Thorndike bought the land for $65. He lived in the house until 1825. That year, Frederick Conway bought the home. The house then became the home of William Conway. He was a US Navy quartermaster, which is a person in charge of supplies. The Conway family owned the property until 1916.
Saving and Restoring the House
By 1961, the Conway House was in poor condition. Ambrose Cramer bought the property. He then gave it to the Camden-Rockport Historical Society. This group worked hard to restore the house. They also filled it with items from the 1700s and early 1800s.
The house opened to the public as a museum in 1962. The Camden Garden Club helped too. They made the gardens look like they would have before 1860. They planted flowers and plants common to the area back then.
Conway Homestead & Cramer Museum Today
Today, the Camden-Rockport Historical Society manages the museum. It is known as the Conway Homestead & Cramer Museum. This property is more than just the Conway House.
It also includes the Cramer Museum. This museum has many historical items from the local area. There is a barn with old carriages, sleighs, and tools. You can also see a blacksmith shop. A maple sugaring house shows how maple syrup was made. There is also an education center for visitors to learn more.
