National Register of Historic Places

Gray House, Old

Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine
Listed
May 7, 2007
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
07000408

About this property

The Old Gray House, also known as the Hodgden-Merrow House, is a historic house at 60 Tavenner Road, on Sawyers Island in Boothbay, Maine. The house, probably built in the 1820s, but possibly older (or including older sections), is built on a site that has been in documented use since the 1740s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The Old Gray House stands near the northwestern tip of Sawyer Island, a large island on the west side of the town of Boothbay in the Sheepscot River. It is a two-story wood-frame structure, with a hip roof, central chimney, clapboard siding, and granite foundation. The front facade, facing south, is five bays wide and slightly asymmetrical, with larger bays to the right of the entrance, which is slightly off-center. The entrance is framed by pilasters and topped by a transom window and corniced entablature. An enclosed porch projects to the west side, and a two-story ell extends north from the main block. The interior is well preserved, retaining original plaster, woodwork, and fireplaces. The exact construction date of the house is uncertain, with architectural evidence suggesting a date in the early 19th century. The oldest documentary evidence of the property is a 1746 deed for the entire island, and by 1753 there was a house on the site, which served as a tavern, inn, and store, under the proprietorship of Joseph Patten. In 1774, Benjamin Sawyer acquired ownership of the island, and he continued to operate the businesses on the island until losing it to foreclosure in 1786. The Hodgdon family then owned most of the island into the early 20th century. It is likely that the house was either built or enlarged in the 1820s, giving it its present high-quality Federal period finishes. In 1918 the house was purchased by the Merrow family, which undertook a renovation in consultation with architect Charles Way of Sudbury, Massachusetts. National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Maine

Location

60 Tavenner Rd.
Boothbay, Lincoln County, Maine
43.87428, -69.68029

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORYEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Gray House, Old

This page lists Gray House, Old. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Gray House, Old report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Union Meeting House, (Former)
Civil War
2.2 mi
Westport Community Church
Industrial
2.2 mi
Knight-Corey House
Industrial
2.2 mi
Squire Tarbox House
Industrial
2.3 mi
Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
Industrial
3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gray House, Old listed on the National Register?

Gray House, Old was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 2007.

What type of historic resource is Gray House, Old?

Gray House, Old is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gray House, Old?

The period of significance for Gray House, Old is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Gray House, Old?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Gray House, Old will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Lincoln County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Lincoln County.

Explore LincolnCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Gray House, Old will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report