Nathaniel Hawthorne Boyhood Home facts for kids
The Nathaniel Hawthorne Boyhood Home is a special old house in Raymond, Maine. It was built around 1812 and was where the famous writer Nathaniel Hawthorne lived when he was a boy. Today, a local group takes care of it, and it's used for community events. This house is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Nathaniel Hawthorne Boyhood Home
|
|
A c. 1906 postcard view of the house
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Hawthorne and Raymond Cape Rds., Raymond, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1818 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000030 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1969 |
Contents
About Hawthorne's Boyhood Home
This historic house is found in northern Raymond, Maine. It sits close to the town of Casco. The house is a rectangular building made of wood. It has two and a half stories. The roof slopes down on two sides, and there are brick chimneys at each end. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding.
What Does the House Look Like?
The front of the house faces north. It has five window sections across. The main door is in the center and looks very fancy. It has small windows on either side. There are also flat columns next to the door. Above the door, there is a wide, fan-shaped design. This style was popular a long time ago. The other windows and corners of the house are quite simple. Inside, the house has changed a lot over the years. It now has three large rooms. This is because it was used for different things.
Who Lived Here?
The house was built around 1812. It was built by Dr. Richard Manning. He was the uncle of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in this house with his uncle for several years. He probably kept visiting the house even when he was a student at Bowdoin College (from 1822 to 1825).
"Manning's Folly"
In its early days, the house was called "Manning's Folly." This was because Dr. Manning spent a lot of money on it. He used expensive wallpaper and had very large fireplaces. He even bought costly Belgian glass for the windows. Later, Dr. Manning moved back to Salem, Massachusetts. The house then became a tavern, which is like an inn.
From Tavern to Church
Dr. Manning left money to the town in his will. This money was meant to build a new church. But instead of building a new one, the town used the money. In 1839, they changed Dr. Manning's old house into a church. Today, the Hawthorne Community Association owns the house. This local group works hard to keep the building safe and preserved for the future.
