[1] In 1784, Elijah Craig established the town of Lebanon, Virginia in an area of Kentucky now known as Scott County.

Taking full advantage of the plentiful hemp crops in Scott County, Thomas Hawkins established a ropewalk and bagging factory on the property.

First, in August 1830, after the decision was made to establish a Baptist 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.

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 oldest section of the Hawkins House is the west wing of the structure, and includes six-panel doors and a simple fireplace mantel indicating a construction date as early as 1790.