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 historic house and museum. It is located in Rockport and Camden, Maine. This house was likely built in the 1770s. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Knox County. The Conway House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This means it is a special place worth protecting.
What Does the Conway House Look Like?
The Conway House is found near the border of Camden and Rockport. It sits on the northwest side of United States Route 1. The house is a one-and-a-half-story building. It is built in the Cape style, which is a traditional New England design. The house is made of wood and has a chimney in the middle.
It seems the house was built on top of an even older foundation. This older part might be from the early 1700s. The wood used to build the house is quite rough. You can still see tree bark on some of its large beams. Also, you can spot marks from axes and adzes. These tools were used to shape the wood long ago.
The History of Conway House
The Conway House was built around 1770. Robert Thorndike, the first European settler in Camden, built it. His son, Robert Jr., was born in the house in 1773. He was one of the first children born to European settlers in the area. Robert Thorndike bought the land for $65. He lived in the house until 1825.
Then, Frederick Conway bought the home. It later became the home of William Conway. He was a US Navy quartermaster. A quartermaster helps manage supplies and equipment. The house stayed in the Conway family until 1916.
By 1961, the house was in poor condition. Ambrose Cramer bought it and gave it to the Camden-Rockport Historical Society. They worked hard to fix it up. They also filled it with items from the 1700s and early 1800s. The house opened as a museum in 1962. The Camden Garden Club helped too. They made the gardens look like they did before 1860.
Conway Homestead & Cramer Museum Today
Today, the Camden-Rockport Historical Society runs the museum. It is known as the Conway Homestead & Cramer Museum. The property includes several interesting buildings. You can explore the Conway House itself. There is also the Cramer Museum. It has displays of old items from the local area.
You can also see a barn with old carriages, sleighs, and tools. There is a blacksmith shop where metal items were made. A maple sugaring house shows how maple syrup was produced. Finally, there is an education center. It helps visitors learn even more about the area's history.
