Cray House
Encyclopedia
The Cray House is a two-room house in Stevensville
, Maryland
. Built around 1809, it is a rare surviving example of post-and-plank
construction, and of a build of small house which once dominated the local landscape. For these reasons it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
, -story house. Later, a frame
addition was made to the south end, also containing three bays. At this time the original roof was replaced by a gambrel roof, which ran the entire length of the house. The resulting structure is quite similar to a house style that was once relatively common during the late 18th and early 19th century in Queen Anne's County, Maryland
.
The house was auction
ed publicly in 1914; its namesake, widow Nora Cray, later lived there with her nine children. In 1975 her heirs donated the house, and its lot, to the Kent Island
Heritage Society, which group have restored and furnished it and opened it to the public.
on each facade
is flanked by six-over-six-pane windows. The north gable
end is a blank wall, and the chimney
is "paneled", with its brick
work exposed up to the second floor. In these respects, the house is not unique, as several similar houses can still be found countywide. The modest size of the original house, too, is very much in keeping with other houses of its age from the surrounding area; such buildings were common in Tidewater Maryland
well into the nineteenth century. Less common is the post-and-plank construction of the earliest portion of the house, unusual in Tidewater Maryland, and examples such as this, where the plank
s run from corner to corner, were virtually unknown before this example was found.
The house has a hall-parlor plan
that had only one heated room per floor. Despite its small size, however, it was kitted out with full interior trim
; elements include beaded board partition and baseboard
s, a two-piece chair rail, refined trim and a mantel
on the first floor.
In addition to the main dwelling, a smokehouse stands on the property, at the rear of the lot. This structure is not original to the site, but was moved to the house as a rare example of a once-common feature of houses in the region. It is currently operated as a gift shop
in conjunction with the house-museum.
When first discovered, the Cray House was thought to be a unique survival of an unusual type of post-and-plank construction. Subsequent investigations have shown that a number of these buildings remain, scattered throughout Tidewater Maryland. Unfortunately, almost all of these buildings are in threatened condition. The majority of the known examples are either small farm buildings or have been adapted as kitchen wings for larger houses. The Cray House, along with two similar buildings in southern Maryland, remain the only examples of such a structure that have remained relatively intact as dwellings.
The Cray House is one of a number of historic structures in Stevensville; many are grouped within the Stevensville Historic District
, but the Cray House was listed separately. It is, however, located in the middle of the historic area, on Cockey Lane; behind it is the Stevensville Train Depot, while just down the street are the Old Post Office building and the Stevensville Bank
.
Stevensville, Maryland
Stevensville is a census-designated place in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, and is the county's most populous place among both CDPs and municipalities. The Stevensville Historic District is one of only two registered historic districts in the county, the other being the Centreville Historic...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Built around 1809, it is a rare surviving example of post-and-plank
Post-and-plank
Post-and-plank is a construction method which was once fairly common in various areas of the United States, but which is now rarely used. Hand-sawn logs would be mortised and tenoned into vertical corner posts to create the sides of the building. Few post-and-plank buildings survive; the most...
construction, and of a build of small house which once dominated the local landscape. For these reasons it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
History
The house was constructed in two stages, with the earliest portion dating to around 1809. The land upon which it stands was once called Steven's Adventure, after Francis Stevens, to whom title was granted in 1694. The first section to be built, using an unusual sort of post-and-plank method, was a three-bayBay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, -story house. Later, a frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
addition was made to the south end, also containing three bays. At this time the original roof was replaced by a gambrel roof, which ran the entire length of the house. The resulting structure is quite similar to a house style that was once relatively common during the late 18th and early 19th century in Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Queen Anne's County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 47,798. Its county seat and most populous municipality is Centreville. The census-designated place of Stevensville is the county's most populous place...
.
The house was auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
ed publicly in 1914; its namesake, widow Nora Cray, later lived there with her nine children. In 1975 her heirs donated the house, and its lot, to the Kent Island
Kent Island, Maryland
Kent Island is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, and a historic place in Maryland. To the east, a narrow channel known as the Kent Narrows barely separates the island from the Delmarva Peninsula, and on the other side, the island is separated from Sandy Point, an area near Annapolis, by...
Heritage Society, which group have restored and furnished it and opened it to the public.
Construction
The earlier section of house remains fairly ordered; a central doorDoor
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
on each facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
is flanked by six-over-six-pane windows. The north gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
end is a blank wall, and the chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
is "paneled", with its brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
work exposed up to the second floor. In these respects, the house is not unique, as several similar houses can still be found countywide. The modest size of the original house, too, is very much in keeping with other houses of its age from the surrounding area; such buildings were common in Tidewater Maryland
Tidewater (geographic term)
Tidewater is a geographic area of southeast Virginia and northeastern North Carolina that is considered a part of the Coastal Plain. Portions of Maryland facing the Chesapeake Bay are also given this designation. The area gains its name because of the effect the area has from the changing tides of...
well into the nineteenth century. Less common is the post-and-plank construction of the earliest portion of the house, unusual in Tidewater Maryland, and examples such as this, where the plank
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
s run from corner to corner, were virtually unknown before this example was found.
The house has a hall-parlor plan
Hall and parlor house
A hall and parlor house is a type of vernacular house found in medieval to 19th century England, as well as colonial America. It is presumed to have been the model on which other North American house types have been developed such as the Cape Cod house and the Saltbox and influenced the somewhat...
that had only one heated room per floor. Despite its small size, however, it was kitted out with full interior trim
Molding (decorative)
Molding or moulding is a strip of material with various profiles used to cover transitions between surfaces or for decoration. It is traditionally made from solid milled wood or plaster but may be made from plastic or reformed wood...
; elements include beaded board partition and baseboard
Baseboard
In architecture, a baseboard is a board covering the lowest part of an interior wall...
s, a two-piece chair rail, refined trim and a mantel
Mantel
Mantel is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
on the first floor.
In addition to the main dwelling, a smokehouse stands on the property, at the rear of the lot. This structure is not original to the site, but was moved to the house as a rare example of a once-common feature of houses in the region. It is currently operated as a gift shop
Gift shop
A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic or theme. The items sold often include coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, handmade collections and other souvenirs....
in conjunction with the house-museum.
Significance
The Cray House is one of a number of historic structures in Stevensville; many are grouped within the Stevensville Historic District
Stevensville Historic District
The Stevensville Historic District, also known as Historic Stevensville, is a national historic district in downtown Stevensville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland. It contains roughly 100 historic structures, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
, but the Cray House was listed separately. It is, however, located in the middle of the historic area, on Cockey Lane; behind it is the Stevensville Train Depot, while just down the street are the Old Post Office building and the Stevensville Bank
Stevensville Bank
The Stevensville Bank is a historic building located near the center of Stevensville, Maryland, United States, and is in the Stevensville Historic District. The building's name is a reference to Stevensville Savings Bank which once occupied the building...
.
External links
- Cray House - Historic Sites Consortium of Queen Anne's County