Chronology of the Hawthorne House
The chronology below was compiled by John Manoush, long time board member, and forever historian of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s boyhood home. It hasn’t been updated in a few years, but now – 2025 – we are working together to update and it and embellish it with more source documents and perhaps rich letters and personal reflections.
1812-1825: The house was built by Richard Manning, brother of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s mother and a resident of South Casco (near Raymond, ME). Hawthorne spent summers here from the age of 9 until he began study at Bowdoin college in 1821. He may have used the house from time to time until his graduation in 1825, but he moved back to Salem, MA at this time.
1826-1876: Little information is available about this period. There is mention of the house being called Colonel Scribner’s Stage Coach Tavern, but at least one account describes the house in 1870 as vacant and in a sad state of neglect. At some point the house changed hands from the Hawthornes to Francis Radoux.
1877: The Hawthorne house and land was sold on November 17 for $400 by Francis Radoux to the Trustees of the Radoux Union Meeting House, consisting of Gibeon Plummer, Hezekia Lombard, Andrew R. Gray, Thomas Mitchell and Addison Shaw.
1891: The Radoux Union Meeting Parish was formed. Trustees were William Watkins, Fred Dingley, Sumner Watkins, Walter Dingley and Daniel Lombard. The building was used as a church for some years. It is not clear if this is when the entrance door was changed to two doors opening in the center, or if this had already been done between 1877 and 1891. The interior rooms walls and second floor were removed to make the building more church-like. A narrow balcony was built against the front wall, which is the way the house remains today.
1921: The Radoux Parish had split up into different factions over the years and the property had not been used for many years. The original trustees were either dead or could not be located. The first Hawthorne Community Association was formed and petitioned the Attorney General, Ransford W. Shaw, to grant the abandoned property to the association. Notices were posted for 3 weeks to give any of the owners an opportunity to make claim on the property, but none appeared (see the 1921 newspaper article on this site).
1922: On July 26 the Maine Supreme Court granted the property to the Hawthorne Community Association. This was recorded in Book 444, page 357 of the Cumberland Country Registry of Deeds. George A. Murch and Willard C. Libby signed as trustees of the Hawthorne Association.
1922-1955: Little detail is available about activities during this period. The Depression years of the 1930’s and WWII both made it difficult for the Association to devote much time or money to the house, but somehow the house survived until a revival of activity began in the 1950’s which continues to today.
1956-1961: Start of the “modern era”. Meeting minutes from 1956 still exist which describe a reorganization of the Association following “many years” of inactivity. The main movers and shakers at that time were: Bert Cook, Willard Libby, Harry Lombard, Halsey Gulick, Clyde Murch. Thanks to all of them for their initiative and hard work.
1962-1969: “The Golden Era?” A period of steady activity and growth for the Association. In addition to the three traditional activities still held today, the Association began opening the house to the public each Sunday afternoon in summer, using a rotating roster of volunteer members. This practice continued into the early 1970’s. Other regular activities included a Spring road clean-up, crafts fair, lectures and concerts. The work and donations of the Hawthorne Garden Club must also be acknowledged for maintaining the grounds of this property, not only during this period, but also up through the present time.
1969: The Hawthorne House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1970-1985: Minutes of meetings and names of officers and trustees are available for most of this period. For the most part, the Association events were similar to those of today, with a Spring (June) strawberry festival, a summer BBQ, a children’s Halloween party and a Christmas party or dinner. There were 215 dues-paying members in 1972.
1986: A June hailstorm affecting much of Raymond and South Casco battered the Hawthorne House with golf ball sized hailstones, breaking over 70 panes of glass on the North and East sides. Windows were temporarily boarded up until members’ contributions allowed permanent repairs. Shutters damaged by the storm were removed and not replaced (these were not original).
A well was also drilled in 1986, making running water available in the house for the first time. Prior to this, members used to carry water to the house for making coffee or cleaning. This was made possible by a donation from Roger and Charlotte Hewson and from the well driller, Hans Hansen. The well depth is 700 ft.
1987: Completed the well piping and testing, painted the exterior and fixed the windows, extended a 64 ft. brick walkway with a light between the entrance and the parking area. Carl Bloom installed a flush toilet for the first time!
Due to these improvements, the annual Christmas party was held at the Hawthorne House itself beginning this year (Previous parties had been held at area restaurants). The 1987 party and perhaps several to follow were catered, rather than pot luck dinners as is our current custom. For reasons not understood, at least some later Christmas parties (1990 and others) were still held at area restaurants.
2001: All windows were re-glazed and painted, the interior was re-painted (changed from a blue/green to off white and tan), and curtains and shades were provided for the windows.