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Conway Homestead/Cramer Museum
Camden-Rockport Historical Society
U.S. Route 1, Camden-Rockport town line
Just south of a bustling shopping center off busy Route One at the Camden-Rockport town line, a narrow dirt road snakes through deep woods leading back in time to another world — life as it was on the Midcoast in the late 1700s-1800s.
There sits the Conway Homestead — Cramer Museum complex, owned and operated by the Camden-Rockport Historical Society.
Visitors may explore the Homestead, one of the oldest structures in the region. Built about 1770, the house is an example of 18th century rural construction known as Cape Cod. Roof timbers are fastened with tree-nails (trunnels). Laths in the wall and ceilings are of hand-split hemlock; the beams and heavy sills are hand-hewn with broadaxe and adze, and early rosehead nails are used in some of the fastenings. The kitchen contains a bake-oven built with early small bricks.
The house also features wide floor boards, L and H hinges, one butterfly hinge, and a double brick hearth. Over the front door is the original four-light transom. There is a most unusual curved entrance hall with a "parson's cupboard".
The nearby barn is one of the best known examples of the heavy timbered style of the 18th century. In it is a collection of carriages, sleighs, farm implements and early tools — along with a hand-weaving loom, spinning wheel and ice cutting saw.
Also on the property are a blacksmith shop of the type common to small towns years ago; a Victorian privy and a unique 1820 sap house, where maple sugaring demonstrations are held each spring.
Nearby is the Cramer Museum with exhibition galleries for display and storage of the Society's historic possessions. The Mary Meeker Cramer Museum was completed in l970, and its displays became an integral part of the Conway Campus. Its permanent collection contains many reminders of Camden-Rockport's historic past, including one of the most beautiful ship models in the country. It recalls the great days of sailing ships. There also are collections of period costumes and early glass. Other items include paintings, musical instruments, guns, documents and records, and a reference library.
The complex is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Sites, is open July and August, Tuesday-Friday, 11am – 3 pm. Or by appointment in June and September.
info@conwayhousemuseum.org; www.conwayhousemuseum.org
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Rockland Historical Society
(formerly known as the Shore Village Historical Society)
Headquarters and Exhibits at the Rockland Public Library, Rockland
Located in the lower level of the Rockland Public Library with its own private entrance, the Rockland Historical Society houses the entire Edwin Libby Post G.A.R. collection of Civil War memorabilia, plus an extensive collection of artifacts from Rockland's lime, fishing, and shipbuilding industries, and numerous examples of early Rockland memorabilia. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.; other days and hours by appointment. Admission free, donations welcomed. A variety of program meetings several times a year are open to the public, membership is encouraged. 207-594-6193 or Harold Simmons, President at 207-594-8158. Mailing address: Rockland Historical Society, P.O. Box 1331, Rockland, ME 04841.
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Thomaston Historical Society
Thomaston, Maine
The Thomaston Historical Society, the only original building remaining of the General Henry Knox estate is home to the Thomaston Historical Society. This 1794 brick structure, once a farmhouse for the men who worked on the estate, can be found at the foot of Knox St. The Society's small museum is rich with the artifacts of Thomaston's unique history of ship building during the era of full rigged sailing vessels and schooners that once plied the oceans and made the town's occupants wealthy. The collection includes many historic photographs of those vessels and the houses belonging to the local captains, merchants and artisans. Ships' logs and sail making equipment; records of births, deaths and marriages dating back two hundred years; listings of Thomaston sea captains, cargoes and the ships that carried them are part of the collection. Oil paintings of some of our best known residents are examples of the opulence in Thomaston during that most romantic of historic times. Collections of letters from several noted families are open to scholars for research. The society has produced many books of town history that are available for purchase as well as nineteenth century maps for viewing and copies of photographs of historic houses and events. Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons during June, July and August from 2 - 4 pm or any time by appointment at 207-354-2314 (Margaret McCrea). or by email at katsmeow@roadrunner.com or by email at Cruzinart@gmail.com . Or contact us by postal mail at: P.O. Box 384, Thomaston ME 04861. Meetings open to the public are held on the second Tuesday of the month from May - November at 7:30 pm. A wide variety of programs deal with subjects related to Maine and Thomaston history, boat building, old house restoration and other topics of interest in the area.
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Farnsworth Homestead (c. 1850)
Elm Street, Rockland, adjacent to Farnsworth Museum
Well-preserved Greek Revival home with original Victorian furnishings and decor illustrating the lifestyle of a successful 19th Century merchant family. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open Memorial Day weekend to July 4, Tuesday through Sunday, 10am - 5 pm; July 4 through Columbus Day, open daily from 10 am - 5 pm. Homestead included with Museum admission. Call 207-596-6457.
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The General Henry Knox Museum
Thomaston, at the intersection of U.S.Route l and Maine Route 131 South
Come visit Montpelier! The magnificent 22-room museum houses the furniture, family portraits, china and silver of General Knox (1750–1806). After serving as Chief of Artillery during the Revolutionary War and Secretary of War in George Washington's first cabinet, Henry Knox retired to his estate in Thomaston in 1795. Special programs are held throughout the year. Hours: Open Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day. Guided tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10am - 3:30pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 207-354-8062.
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Rockland's Historic Main Street
Rockland's Main Street Historic District has been recorded in the National Register of Historic Places for its many fine examples of Italianate, Mansard, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival architecture. Downtown Rockland is undergoing an exciting revival as seen in several inspiring recent renovations of its commercial buildings..
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Thomaston's Historic Main Street
Whereas Rockland's Historic District is primarily comprised of commercial buildings, Thomaston has splendid sea captains’ homes in the Greek Revival and Federal styles along its major thoroughfare, Route 1, and several residential streets. On September 26, 2002, "Museum in the Streets" was unveiled. This is a walking tour of Thomaston historical sites marked by 25 panels illustrated with old photographs. This project, funded in part by MBNA Foundation, is the first "Museum in the Streets" to be installed in the United States. The Thomaston Public Library, the Thomaston Historical Society and the Town of Thomaston were sponsors of this installation. Patrick Cardon of Cushing is the designer of this museum concept. Mr. Cardon is a museum consultant who lived abroad for many years and has overseen the development and installation of many similar projects in European towns. All 25 panels provide historical information about the old pictures shown on each panel. Each is situated so the viewer may look at the historic photo and observe the same site as it exists today. Historical information on the panels is in English and in French in recognition of Maine's Franco-American heritage. Walking map brochures are available at every Main Street Thomaston merchant's shop, Thomaston Town Office, Thomaston Public Library and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information: The Museum in the Streets, LLC, P.O. Box 11, Cushing, ME 04563.
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Union Historical Society
343 Common Road, Union
Founders Day is an annual celebration honoring the early settlers of Union held each year on the Saturday in July closest to July 19th. The Union Historical Society is housed in the Robbins House, a charming house shared with the local library. Our collection includes a number of old photos and postcards of Union, family histories and interesting local artifacts. We offer a brochure of a self-guided tour of sites from the historical novel, COME SPRING by Ben Ames Williams. Copies of the book are for sale along with several other local publications. A tour of the waterways is available to allow people to see sites as did the original settlers in the 1770's (to arrange a tour, call Lyle Cramer at 207-233-2979). Call for information. Open Wednesday and Saturday, from 10 am to 12 noon. Program meetings on the first Wednesday of month at 7:30 pm, March through December. The Society maintains three properties. The Old Townhouse is available for rent. 207-785-5444. Email: unionhis@midcoast.com.
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Vinalhaven Historical Society
High Street, Vinalhaven
Open Tuesday-Saturday in June and September from 12 - 4pm; open daily in July and August from 12 - 4pm; other dates and times by appointment. Admission free (donations welcomed). The Society has an extensive collection of photographic and genealogical records. The museum includes artifacts from the Civil War, Vinalhaven schools, homes, farms and the fishing & horse net industries, as well as an impressive exhibit of the once booming granite quarrying and shipping industry. Contact Susan Radley, 207-863-4410, P.O. Box 339, Vinalhaven ME 04863. Email: vhhissoc@myfairpoint.net.
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