.gif)
Hawkins House (Scott County, Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
The Hawkins House, also known as the Cantrill House, is an historic building located on East Jackson Street in Georgetown, Kentucky
. The structure has been used as a ropewalk
, a dormitory
for women at Georgetown Female Seminary, and a residential dwelling. During the past 180 years, Georgetown College has bought and sold the property three times. The property was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
on April 2, 1973.
established the town of Lebanon, Virginia
in an area of Kentucky
now known as Scott County
. As a tribute to the first President of the United States
, George Washington
, the name was changed to George Town in 1790, and later shortened to Georgetown. The town was centered around Royal Spring, a large spring
that was a reliable source of water for the residents and industry in the area. Hemp
was one of earliest successful industries in Georgetown. In 1789, Craig founded one of the earliest successful ropewalks in Kentucky.
college in Georgetown, the building was the first property bought by the new institution. After other land was secured for the new school, the property was sold to Joseph Lemon who returned the building to its prior use as a ropewalk and bagging factory. Georgetown College acquired the property for the second time in 1853 from E.N. Eliot. The school held the property until 1858 and used it first as the college president's house and then later as a men's dormitory called Judson Hall. The college bought the house for the last time in 1930 from W.E. Haynes and his wife Frances (Wood) and sold it the next year to Mary Garth Hawkins.
The Hawkins House has a central section with two-bay wings attached on both sides to central area.
The oldest section of the Hawkins House is the west wing of the structure, and includes six-panel
door
s and a simple fireplace mantel
indicating a construction date as early as 1790. This part of the building has a freestanding chimney
and staircase that are independent from the rest of the structure. The east wing of the house has reeded recesses, and reeding on the chair rail and mantels indicating a later construction date.
Georgetown, Kentucky
Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts...
. The structure has been used as a ropewalk
Ropewalk
A ropewalk is a long straight narrow lane, or a covered pathway, where long strands of material were laid before being twisted into rope.Ropewalks historically were harsh sweatshops, and frequently caught on fire, as hemp dust forms an explosive mixture. Rope was essential in sailing ships and the...
, a dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
for women at Georgetown Female Seminary, and a residential dwelling. During the past 180 years, Georgetown College has bought and sold the property three times. The property was added to the U.S. 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...
on April 2, 1973.
History
In 1784, Elijah CraigElijah Craig
Rev. Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher in Virginia, who became an educator and capitalist entrepreneur in the area of Virginia that later became the state of Kentucky...
established the town of Lebanon, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in an area of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
now known as Scott County
Scott County, Kentucky
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 47,173 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Georgetown.Scott County is part of the Lexington–Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. As a tribute to the first President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, the name was changed to George Town in 1790, and later shortened to Georgetown. The town was centered around Royal Spring, a large spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
that was a reliable source of water for the residents and industry in the area. Hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
was one of earliest successful industries in Georgetown. In 1789, Craig founded one of the earliest successful ropewalks in Kentucky.
Ropewalk and bagging factory
Early property records show that the land where the Hawkins House sits belonged to the Hawkins family and was referred to as "ropewalk alley". Taking full advantage of the plentiful hemp crops in Scott County, Thomas Hawkins established a ropewalk and bagging factory on the property. Land deeds show that the property continued to be used as a hemp establishment as late as the 1850s.Georgetown College
Georgetown College bought and sold the building three times. First, in August 1830, after the decision was made to establish a BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
college in Georgetown, the building was the first property bought by the new institution. After other land was secured for the new school, the property was sold to Joseph Lemon who returned the building to its prior use as a ropewalk and bagging factory. Georgetown College acquired the property for the second time in 1853 from E.N. Eliot. The school held the property until 1858 and used it first as the college president's house and then later as a men's dormitory called Judson Hall. The college bought the house for the last time in 1930 from W.E. Haynes and his wife Frances (Wood) and sold it the next year to Mary Garth Hawkins.
Residential dwelling
After being used for commercial purposes in the early years, during later years the Hawkins House was used as a residential dwelling for many well known Scott County families. In 1858, J.J. Rucker, a professor of mathematics, purchased the property for use as a home. Dr. J. Campbell Cantrill and his wife resided in the house.Georgetown Female Seminary
When Georgetown Female Seminary building burned beyond use, J.J. Rucker used his home, the Hawkins House, to house the women.Architecture
The oldest section of the Hawkins House is the west wing of the structure, and includes six-panel
Frame and panel
Frame and panel construction is a woodworking technique often used in the making of doors, wainscoting, and other decorative features for cabinets, furniture, and homes...
door
Door
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....
s and a simple fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a grate to catch the smoke. The term has evolved to include the decorative framework around the fireplace, and can include elaborate designs extending to the ceiling...
indicating a construction date as early as 1790. This part of the building has a freestanding 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...
and staircase that are independent from the rest of the structure. The east wing of the house has reeded recesses, and reeding on the chair rail and mantels indicating a later construction date.