Thomaston in Knox County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Once a Tavern
⎯⎯⎯
Une Ancienne Taverne

Thomaston, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets —

Once a Tavern Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 15, 2024

1. Once a Tavern Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

One of the oldest houses in town, built in 1795, this outstanding building started its life as a tavern. The Federal portico was added when a section of the house was rebuilt after a fire. Various stories are told about this house but they are in conflict with each other and the house has never been fully documented. It seems to have changed hands many times and is credited with having belonged to Captain Ebenezer Thatcher and his wife Lucy, the eldest daughter of Major-General Henry Knox. If this is true, it seems the Thatchers owned it for less than three weeks. Depending on which history you read, the story changes. We do know that it was built by Captain David Jenks and was once owned by Dr. Rose, the first warden of the Maine State Prison.

Cette demeure étonnante, construite en 1795, est l'une des plus anciennes de Thomaston et était à l'origine une taverne. Le porche de style fédéral a été ajouté suite à un incendie. Plusieurs versions contradictoires circulent quant à l'histoire de cette maison, au sujet de laquelle on manque de documents. II semblerait qu'elle ait eu de nombreux propriétaires. Parmi ceux-ci figure le Capitaine Ebenezer Thatcher et son épouse Lucy, la fille aînée du Général-Major Henry Knox. Toutefois, si ceci est vrai, il semble qu'ils n'y auraient résidé que... trois semaines! Suivant la version que l'on consulte, la légende change. Ce qui est certain, c'est que la maison a été construite par le Capitaine David Jenks et qu'elle a appartenu au Dr Rose, le premier directeur de la prison d'Etat.

Erected by The

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1795.

Location. 44° 4.756′ N, 69° 10.827′ W. Marker is in Thomaston, Maine, in Knox County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 1) near Gilchrest Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 108 Main St, Thomaston ME 04861, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Midcoast Maine

and on Penobscot Bay.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Remarkable Sea Story (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomaston's Business Block (about 600 feet away); June 7, 1915 (about 600 feet away); Thomaston, Maine (about 600 feet away); The Builders, the Captains and the Seamen of Thomaston Ships (about 600 feet away); A Case of Modern Technology

Once a Tavern House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 15, 2024

2. Once a Tavern House

Built by Captain David Jenks, in 1795. The house is across Main Street from the marker.

(about 600 feet away); A Town Landmark (about 700 feet away); Thomaston Historical Timeline (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thomaston.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 155 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.

Once a Tavern⎯⎯⎯Une Ancienne Taverne

Thomaston, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets —

Once a Tavern
⎯⎯⎯
Une Ancienne Taverne