Hawkins House (Scott County, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cantrill House
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | Georgetown, Kentucky |
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| NRHP reference No. | 73000834 |
| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1973 |
The Hawkins House, also known as the Cantrill House, is a very old building in Georgetown, Kentucky. It has been used for many different things over the years. This building was once a place where ropes were made, a home for students, and a family house.
Georgetown College has owned this property three different times. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1973. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
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A Look at the House's Past
In 1784, a man named Elijah Craig started a town called Lebanon in what is now Scott County, Kentucky. In 1790, the town's name was changed to George Town to honor the first U.S. President, George Washington. Later, it became known simply as Georgetown.
The town grew around Royal Spring, a large natural spring. This spring gave people and businesses a steady supply of water. One of the first big industries in Georgetown was growing hemp. Hemp is a plant used to make strong fibers. In 1789, Elijah Craig started one of Kentucky's first successful ropewalks. A ropewalk is a long building or area where ropes are twisted and made.
Making Ropes and Bags
Old records show that the land where the Hawkins House stands was owned by the Hawkins family. It was even called "ropewalk alley." Thomas Hawkins used the many hemp crops in Scott County to start a ropewalk and a factory that made bags. This property was used for making hemp products until the 1850s.
Owned by Georgetown College
Georgetown College bought and sold the Hawkins House three times. The first time was in August 1830. The college bought it when they decided to start a Baptist school in Georgetown. After getting more land for the new school, they sold the house. Joseph Lemon bought it and used it again as a ropewalk and bag factory.
The college bought the property a second time in 1853. They owned it until 1858. During this time, it was first the college president's house. Later, it became a dorm for men called Judson Hall. The college bought the house for the last time in 1930. They sold it the next year to Mary Garth Hawkins.
A Family Home
After being used for businesses, the Hawkins House became a home for many well-known families in Scott County. In 1858, J.J. Rucker, a math professor, bought the house to live in. Dr. J. Campbell Cantrill and his wife also lived in the house. This is why it is also known as the Cantrill House.
Home for Young Women Students
When the building for the Georgetown Female Seminary was badly damaged by fire, J.J. Rucker let the young women students stay in his home, the Hawkins House. One famous student who graduated from the seminary was Sallie Rochester Ford. She later became a writer and newspaper editor.
How the House Was Built
The Hawkins House has a main part in the middle. It also has two sections, called wings, attached to each side.
The oldest part of the Hawkins House is the west wing. It has special doors with six panels and a simple fireplace mantel. These details suggest it was built as early as 1790. This part of the building has its own chimney and staircase that are separate from the rest of the house. The east wing of the house has different designs. It has carved patterns on the walls and on the chair rail and mantels. These details show it was built later than the west wing.
