Greenwell Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Greenwell Store
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Built circa 1870
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Hawaii Belt Road, Kealakekua, Hawaii |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001017 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1978 |
The Greenwell Store is a special old building in Hawaii. It was once a busy shop. Today, it is a museum run by the Kona Historical Society. This museum helps people learn about life in Hawaii long ago.
Contents
A Look Back at the Greenwell Store
Who Was Henry Greenwell?
Henry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant. He first came to Hawaii in 1850. After a trip back to England, he returned and married Elizabeth Caroline Hall. They built a wooden house first. Later, they had a strong stone building constructed. This stone building became the Greenwell Store around 1870.
The Store Building
The Greenwell Store is a simple, rectangular building. It is about 25 feet wide and 55 feet long. It has three levels: a basement, a main floor, and an attic. The walls are very thick, about 24 inches (61 cm). They are made of stones held together with mortar.
How Kealakekua Got Its Name
Henry Greenwell also worked as the Postmaster. Because of this, the town that grew around his store became known as Kealakekua, Hawaii. Even though the actual traditional land area with that name is a bit further south, the store's location became the center of the community. The Hawaii Belt Road, a main highway, now runs right past the store.
Becoming a Museum
In 1976, Norman Leonard Greenwell and his wife Jean Greenwell helped start the Kona Historical Society. Norman was a descendant of Henry Greenwell. On May 22, 1978, the Greenwell Store was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings on the island of Hawaii. This means it is a very important historical site.
The Kona Historical Society worked hard to fix up the old store. They made it look just like it did around 1875. Then, they opened it as a museum. This allows visitors to step back in time and see what a general store in Hawaii was like over a hundred years ago. The store was also added to Hawaii's own list of historic places on August 17, 1991.
Another property nearby, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, is also managed by the society. It offers tours to show how coffee was grown and processed long ago.
