Abenaki Indian Shop And Camp
Description and history
The former Abenaki Indian Shop and Camp is located on the north side of Intervale Cross Road, separated from the road by the Conway Scenic Railroad. It is a parcel of land 3.8 acres (1.5 ha) in size, most of which is forested in mixed hardwoods. At the southern end is a single-story wood-frame building with a gabled roof, and a descriptive plaque set in a stone. A short way north of this are a grouping of small shingled gable-roofed cabins, set around a small clearing in the woods.
Chief Joseph Laurent, an Abenaki leader from Odanak (St. Francis, Quebec), came to the area in 1884, and established a seasonal camp on the site, which was then owned by a local hotel. Laurent and other Abenaki produced baskets and other handicrafts as a tourist attraction for the hotel guests, and sold them the wares they produced. The Abenaki were descended from the area's original Native American population, who were driven from the area during the colonial period. The shop was originally a service shed built by the Maine Central Railroad; it was purchased by Laurent around 1900. Laurent is also credited with construction of the cottages in which the Abenaki lived. The business was continued by Laurent's son Stephen into the late 20th century. Since 1985, the property has been owned by the town, which now operates it as a small park with interpretive signage describing its history.
See also
Notes
- ^ Date listed by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources appears to pre-date establishment of the State Register (2001).
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places". New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "NRHP nomination for Abenaki Indian Shop and Camp". National Park Service. Retrieved April 27, 2014.