Cottages of Mount Desert Island

part of the Mount Desert Island Cultural History Project
of
V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 400 - Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
info@vfthomas.com - 207-266-5748


(updated 17 December 2008)


Welcome to the Cottages of Mount Desert Island home page, part of the Mount Desert Island Cultural History Project.

Purpose of this web page: The purpose of this web page is to present information about Mount Desert Island's named cottages. If little is known about a cottage, it will be reported below. If a picture becomes available or when substantially more information is learned, a separate web page will be created for that cottage and a link will be provided below. Much of the information below comes from "Lost Bar Harbor" by G. W. Helfrich and Gladys O'Neil. Owners of record in 1904 are from a map "compiled from Atlas of Bar Harbor & Vicinity published by Summer Residents Association".

How to contribute: All information (including images) should be e-mailed to info@vfthomas.com or sent by traditional mail to MDI Cottages, c/o V. F. Thomas Co.; P. O. Box 400; Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.






Bar Harbor

Abendruh
   1904: owned by Mrs. Leonard E. Opdycke
Aldersea
   1904: owned by Edward Coles
Aloha
   1904: owned by Mrs. Robert B. Potter
Anchorage, The
   1904: owned by Mrs. Edith S. Whitney estate
Arcadia
   1904: owned by Mrs. DeGrasse Fox
Archbold cottage - Cleftstone Road
   1904: built by Ed Mears for Ann Archbold
   1947: burned
Ardeen
   1904: owned by Mrs. Platt-Hunt
As You Like It
   1904: owned by Mrs. Mary I. Higgins
Ash Cottage
   1904: owned by Mrs. J. Madison Taylor
Atlantean
   1904: owned by Fred Savage
Atlantique - 45 Hancock Street
   designed by Fred Savage
   1904: built for John Innes Kane (a grandson of John Jacob Astor)
   1992: placed on National Registry
   2000: restored
   photo: cottage on 4 September 2007
Audley cottage
   1904: owned by Miss Elizabeth C. Washington
Bagatelle
   1904: owned by Mrs. Edmund Pendleton
Balance Rock
   1904: owned by Alexander Maitland
Bandbox
   1904: owned by John Hone
Ban-y-Byrn
   designed by S. V. Stratton
   1888-1889: built for Albert Clifford Barney of Cincinnati
   1930: purchased by Joseph Wholean
   1947: burned
   1904: owned by A. C. Barney estate
Barnacles, The
   1904: owned by Edmund Pendleton
Baymeath - Hulls Cove
   designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul of Boston
   1895-1896: built for Mrs. Louise DeKoven Bowen (Mrs. Joseph T. Bowen)
   1904: owned by Joseph T. Bowen
   1979: torn down
Beachcroft
   1904: owned by C. Morton Smith
Beau Desert
   1904: owned by Augustus C. and Miss Gurnee
Bide-a-while
   1904: owned by J. L. Ketterlinus
Bierka
   1904: owned by Augustus Franzen
Birch Point
   1868: built
   1904: owned by Mrs. Alpheus Hardy Bird Cage
   1904: owned by Mrs. Mary D. Biddle estate
Birnam
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1892-1893: built for Charles Fry of Manchester, Massachusetts
   1904: owned by Mrs. Charles Fry
   around 1945: torn down
Blair Eyrie - Highbrook Road
   1888: built by Sidney V. Stratton of Frank Quinby Associates for George Wheeler; originally called Avamaya
   1901: purchased by DeWitt Clinton Blair of New York
   around 1935 - torn down
   photos: gate on 4 September 2007, gatepost on 4 September 2007
Bogue Chitto - Hulls Cove
   designed by W. H. Day
   1888: completed for John A. Morris
   1904: owned by John A. Morris estate
   around 1961: torn down
Boulder
   1904: owned by John H. Livingston
Bournemouth
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1885-1886: built for W. B. Walley of Boston
   later owned by Mrs. Archibald Cary Harrison
   1925: purchased by Mrs. Robert Hall McCormick Jr.
   1979: torn down
Bowling Green
   1904: owned by Mrs. Hunt Slater
   photo: capstone on 4 September 2007
Breeze, The
   1904: owned by Mrs. A. P. Peabody
Briarbound
   1904: owned by William W. White
Briarfield
   1904: owned by R. C. Church
Briars, The
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1881: built for J. Montgomery Sears of Boston
   1904: owned by J. M. Sears
   1908 (summer): rented by John D. Rockefeller Jr. (and his son Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was born there)
   1909: purchased by Tom Walsh for his daughter Evalyn and her husband, Edward Beale "Ned" McLean
   1968: torn down, except a servants' wing that was converted into a guest house
Brook End
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1880-1881: built for General W. F. Smith
   1889: purchased by Dr. Robert Abbe of New York
   1904: owned by Dr. Robert Abbe
   around 1963: torn down
Buena Vista
   1904: owned by James Hinch estate
Buonriposo - Eden Street
   designed by Ernesto Fabbri
   1904 built for Ernesto Fabbri
   1918: burned
   1919: rebuilt
   1963: torn down
Burnmouth
   1904: owned by Mrs. Archibald Harrison
Calender House
   1904: owned by Mrs. John C. Livingston
Canary
   1904: owned by Mrs. Geraldyn Redmond
Casa Far Niente
   designed by Bruce Pierce
   1882: built for William Rice
   1943: torn down
Cedars, The
   1904: owned by George W. Guthrie
Chantier
   1904: owned by Miss Julia Stevens
Chatwold - Schooner Head Road
   1893 (June): owned by Louise Bowler Livingston
   1893 (June): leased by Joseph Pulitzer
   1894: purchased by Joseph Pulitzer
   1904: owned by Joseph Pulitzer
   1945: torn down
Chiltern
   1904: owned by Edgar Scott
Clearfield
   1904: owned by Mrs. Morris Longstreth
Cleftstone
   1904: owned by Frank Ellis
Clover
   1904: owned by Mrs. C. S. Leffingwell
Clovercroft - ocean side of Eden Street
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1883-1884: built for George and Iphynia G. (Livor) Place of New York
   1947: burned
   photo: capstone on 4 September 2007
Colonial Hall
   1904: owned by Mrs. Mary T. Armour and Mrs. Louise Este King
Columbia Cottage
   1904: owned by J. P. Bass
Corfield
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1893: built for Mrs. George P. Bowler of Cincinnati
   1904: owned by Robert Pendleton Bowler
   1922: purchased by William Cooper Procter
   around 1965: torn down
Cornersmeet
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Cragsend
   1904: owned by Mrs. Mary D. Biddle estate
Craigs, The    designed by Bruce Price
   1879-1880: built for Robert Amory
   1946: torn down
Crossways, The
   1904: owned by William B. Rice estate
Crowsnest
   1904: owned by Mrs. Robert Emmons
Devilstone
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1885: built for Mrs. George Bowler
   later owned by James T. Woodward of New York
   later owned by Mrs. Thomas Scott
   1904: owned by Mrs. Clement B. Newbold
   later owned by Miss Frances Coleman who changed its name to Eaglestone
   1928: wing added
   1968: main section torn down; wing remains
Devon
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1888: built
   [date?]: owned by H. C. Wilkins
   1904: owned by H. C. Wilkins estate
   later owned by Harold Peabody
   1947: burned
Donaque - Cleftstone Road
   designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul of Boston
   1893-1894: built for A. Howard Hinckle of Cincinnati
   around 1939: torn down
   1904: owned by A. Howard Hinkle
Dust Pan Cottage - Eden Street
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1886: built for Rufus King of Cincinnati
   later owned by Mrs. W. E. Montgomery
   later owned by James Cunningham
   1947: burned
Dutch Cottage
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Eagle Cliff
   1904: owned by Mrs. Lea McI. Luquer
Eaglestone - see Devilstone
Eastcote
   1904: owned by Mrs. J. Pierrepont Edwards
Eden Hall
   1904: owned by Mrs. T. B. Musgrave
Edenbrae
   1904: owned by Mrs. Louise K. Wilson and Mrs. S. S. Kimball Constable
Edgefield
   1904: owned by Mrs. F. N. Goddard
Edgemere
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1881: built for Thomas B. Musgrave
   1904: owned by Mrs. Thomas B. Musgrave
   later owned by William Sherman, Chester Barnett, and Beatrix (Jones) Farrand
   1938: torn down
Edgewater
   1904: owned by Charles Francis estate
Elsinore - Cleftstone Road
   designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul of Boston
   1893-1894: built for Hugh McMillan of Detroit
   later owned by Mrs. Henry F. Dimock
   around 1945: torn down
   1904: owned by Hugh McMillan
Eyrie, The    designed by William Ralph Emerson of Boston
   1881: built for Robert Amory
   1904: owned by Robert Amory
   later owned by Mrs. Augustus Thorndike, Amory's daughter
   1887 (September): burned
   1900: rebuilt
   1942: torn down
Fabian cottage - Eden Street
   designed by John Clark
   1885-1886: built for R. L. Fabian
   1887(?): tower added
   1889: two-story addition
   1975: torn down
Far Niente
   1904: owned by William B. Rice estate
Fairview
   1904: owned by Mrs. John Harrison
Fairview - Eden Street
   designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul of Boston
   1909: built for Philip Livingston
   later owned by Mary Roberts Rinehart
   1947: burned
Faraway
   1904: owned by John Harrison
Fernhill
   1904: owned by Miss Dorothea C. and Miss Fanny Norris
Four Acres
   designed by Chapman & Fraser of Boston
   1903: built for Alexander J. Cassatt of Philadelphia
   1904: owned by Alexander J. Cassatt
   1925: purchased by E. T. Stotesbury
   remodeling design by Magaziner, Eberhard & Harris; renamed Wingwood House
   1953: torn down
Frost cottage
   1904: owned by S. Weir Mitchell
Geranium
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Glen Eyrie - Eden Street
   1902: built for John B. Henderson of Missouri
   1904: owned by John B. Henderson
   around 1933: torn down
Green Lodge
   1904: owned by Robert Amory
Greencourt
   1904: owned by Miss Charlotte Pendleton
Greenlawn
   1904: owned by Mrs. William Lawrence Green
Greenway Court - lower Main Street
   designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul of Boston
   1910: built for Francis Burton Harrison
   1947: burned
Greystone
   1904: owned by Mrs. M. Cary Lea
Guelph
   1904: owned by Austin Phelps
Guy's Cliff
   designed by W. Jordan
   around 1870: built for Charles T. How
   1904: owned by Mrs. Edwin C. Cushman of Newport, Rhode Island
   later owned by J. J. O'Brien
   1926: purchased by James Byrne
   remodeled by office of Guy Lowell
   willed to Oblate Fathers
   purchased by Bernard Cough
   purchased by College of the Atlantic
Hackmatack
   1904: owned by Miss Helen Beach
Hardy
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Hare Forest - see Ledge Cliff
Hauterive
   1904: owned by Mrs. Miles B. Carpenter
   photo: capstone on 9 April 2008
Highbrook
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1881: built for Mary Leeds (Mrs. James Leeds) of Boston
   1904: owned by Mrs. James Leeds
   1925: purchased by Mrs. A. M. Patterson
   1947: burned
Highfield
   1904: owned by Mrs. Nathan Matthews
Hillcrest
   1904: owned by Thomas H. Hubbard
Hillhurst
   1904: owned by Mrs. W. W. Seeley
Homewood - Eagle Lake Road
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1883: built
   [year?]: purchased by Mrs. M. D. Sanders of Philadelphia
   1904: owned by Mrs. M. D. Sanders estate
   later owned by Hugh Scott of Philadelphia
   1947: burned
Honfleur House - Hulls Cove
   designed by John Clark
   1896: built for Herbert Parsons of New York
   1904: owned by Mrs. Herbert Parsons
   later owned by Sumner Welles
   1964: torn down
Ingleside
   1904: owned by William Lawrence
Islecote - Ogden Point (south of village of Bar Harbor)
   designed by A. W. Longfellow
   1902: built for Mrs. William Jay Schieffelin (sister of George W. Vanderbilt)
   1904: owned by George W. Vanderbilt
   1940: torn down
Italian Villa, The - Eden Street
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1886: built for George Harris of East Machias
   1904: owned by Mrs. George Harris
   later owned by F. McCormick-Goodhart of Washington, D.C.
   1947: burned
Jacobs Well
   1904: owned by L. T. Dickson estate
Kebo
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Kedge, The
   1904: owned by Mrs. J. M. P. Price
Keewaydin - ocean side of Lower Main Street (Route 3 south of Bar Harbor village)
   designed by Lamb & Rich of New York
   1898: built for Gardiner Sherman of New York
   1947: burned
Kenarden Lodge
   designed by Rowe and Baker of New York City
   1892: built for John Stewart Kennedy
   1904: owned by John Stewart Kennedy
   purchased by John Thompson Dorrance
   1960: torn down
   1970s: new cottage built on site for Tristram Colket
Knoll, The
   1904: owned by H. C. Wilkins estate
Kossuth
   1904: owned by Mrs. Frank Fremont-Smith
La Rochelle
   1904: owned by George S. Bowdoin
   photos: capstone on 4 September 2007, cottage on 4 September 2007
La Selva
   1904: owned by Mrs. A. J. Davis
   photo: capstone on 17 September 2007
Larchsea
   1904: owned by Mrs. John Markoe
Ledge, The
   1904: owned by Mrs. Lucien Carr
Ledge Cliff - Schooner Head Road
   1899-1900: built for L. N. Kettle
   1904: owned by L. N. Kettle
   1926: purchased by Potter Palmer who changed name to Hare Forest
   1947: burned
Ledge Hollow
   1904: owned by T. M. Rotch
Ledge Lawn
   1876: built by W. Jordan for Miss Mary Shannon
   1902: torn down
Llangollen - Eagle Lake Road
   1896: built for Charles Jackson
   1904: owned by Mrs. Charles Carroll Jackson
   later owners (in turn): Mrs. William Blake, Mrs. Duer Baker, Prince Mahmet Burhaneddin
   1947: burned
Lookout
   1904: owned by Mrs. Moncure Robinson
Mare Vista
   1904: owned by Mrs. T. B. Musgrave
Marigold
   1904: owned by Miss Jane M. Cary
Meadowridge
   1881: built by Albert Higgins
   1885: purchased by Parke Godwin
   1904: owned by Parke Godwin estate
   later owned by Fred Jellison
   later owned by Alice Kiaer
   around 1955: torn down
Mira Monte
   1904: owned by Mrs. H. C. Chapman
Mizzentop
   designed by H. L. Putnam of Boston
   1883-1884: built for Mrs. William Morris Hunt
   1904: owned by Robert Hall McCormick (grandson of Cyrus McCormick)
   later owned by Henry Morgenthau
   1947: burned
Moorings, The
   1904: owned by Miss Mary Sharswood
Mossley Hall
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1882-1883: built for William B. Howard of Chicago
   1904: owned by Mrs. William B. Howard
   1945: torn down
Nasturtium Cottage
   1904: owned by Mrs. Edward McCauley
Okedon
   1904: owned by David B. Ogden
Old Farm
   designed by Alexander F. Oakey of New York
   1876-1877: built for Charles F. Dorr of Boston
   1904: owned by George Bucknam Dorr (son of Charles F. Dorr)
   1951: torn down
Old Rectory
   1904: owned by C. S. Leffingwell estate
Pinchot cottage
   1903: built for Amos Pinchot of New York (brother of Gifford Pinchot)
   1947: burned
Pinehurst
   1904: owned by Mrs. M. D. Sanders estate
Pointe d'Acadie
   designed by Charles Coolidge Haight
   1868-1869: built for Gouverneur Morris Ogden of New York and called Watersmeet
   1889: purchased by George Washington Vanderbilt II who renamed it
   later owned by George H. McFadden of Philadelphia
   1956: torn down
Poplars, The
   1904: owned by Rufus E. Shapley
Primrose
   1904: owned by C. S. Leffingwell estate
Redwood
   1904: owned by C. J. Morrill estate
Reef Point
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1883: built for Mrs. Cadwalader Jones (mother of Beatrix (Jones) Farrand)
   1904: owned by Mrs. Cadwalader Jones
   1955: torn down
Reverie Cove
   1904: owned by Mrs. John D. Jones
Rexcote
   1904: owned by Mrs. Louise Este King
Richardson
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
Rock Brook
   owner: ?
   photo: capstone on 4 September 2007
Rockburn
   1904: owned by Mrs. A. D. Addison
Rocklyn - Eden Street
   1881-1882: built for James Hinch
   1947: burned
   1904: owned by Phillip Livingston
   photos: steps on 4 September 2007, capstone on 4 September 2007
Saltair
   1904: owned by A. Bleecker Banks
Sea Fox
   1904: owned by Alanson Tucker
Sea Urchins
   1904: owned by Mrs. Burton Harrison
Seacroft
   1904: owned by Mrs. Robert B. Bowler
Shore Acres
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1881: built for Haskett Derby of Boston
   1904: owned by Haskett Derby
   1914: inherited by Mrs. Haskett Derby
   about 1957: torn down
Sonogee - ocean side of Route 3, north of village of Bar Harbor
   1903: built for Henry Lane Eno
   later owned by A. Atwater Kent
   1976: became a nursing facility
Stanwood
   designed by W. M. Camac of Philadelphia
   1885-1886: built for James G. Blaine
   1904: owned by James G. Blaine estate
   1947: burned
Steepways
   1904: owned by Mrs. William Todd Helmuth
Stone Cliffe
   1904: owned by Morris K. Jesup
Stratford House
   1904: owned by Lewis A. Roberts estate
Strawberry Hill House - Strawberry Hill
   designed by Rotch & Tilden of Boston
   1889: built of J. Frederick May of Washington, D.C.
   1904: owned by Mrs. J. Frederick May
   1947: burned
Studio, The
   1904: owned by Frederick Amory
Sturgis cottage
   1904: owned by Mrs. A. Y. Stewart
Sunnyside
   1904: owned by Frank Fremont-Smith
Talleyrand
   designed by DeGrasse Fox
   1887-1888: built for DeGrasse Fox
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
   1947: burned
Tanglewold - Kebo Street
   designed by DeGrasse Fox
   1888: built for DeGrasse Fox
   1904: owned by Malvern Hotel and Land Improvement Company
   1906: purchased by Alfred M. Coats of Providence, Rhode Island
   1917: purchased[?] by A. Murray Young
   1947: burned
Teviot
   1904: owned by John H. Livingston
Thingvalla
   1904: owned by Henry R. Hatfield
Thirlstane
   designed by William Ralph Emerson
   1881: built for Mrs. Rebecca Scott of Washington, D.C.
   1897: purchased by Edward deV. Morrell
   1904: owned by Edward deV. Morrell
   1926: purchased by William Pierson Hamilton (great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton and son-in-law of J. P. Morgan)
   1947: burned
Thornhedge
   1904: owned by Lewis A. Roberts estate
Tides, The
   1887: built
   1904: owned by William B. Rice estate
Triangle, The
   1904: owned by John H. Livingston et al.
Tullibardine
   1904: owned by Miss M. H. Guthrie
Turrets, The - ocean side of Eden Street, Route 3 north of village of Bar Harbor (now 105 Eden Street)
   1904: owned by John J. Emery
   photos: entrance side on 13 July 2008, ocean side on 13 July 2008
Uferheim
   1904: owned by U. H. Crocker estate
Ullikana
   1904: owned by Mrs. Alpheus Hardy
Van Doren cottage - Hulls Cove
   designed by William Poindexter & Co. of Washington, D.C.
   1887-1888: built for Mary Van Doren
   later owned by Juila and Guy Whiting of Washington, D.C.
   1969: torn down
Villa Mary
   1904: owned by F. H. Johnson
Wazee-Lo-Wan
   1904: owned by Mrs. W. C. Allison
Westfield
   1904: owned by William B. Rice estate
Westover
   1904: owned by Mrs. Jesse Hoyt
Whileaway
   1904: owned by George W. Vanderbilt
Wildacre
   1904: owned by Mrs. George S. Robbins
Wingwood House - see Four Acres
Witch Cliff
   designed by Bruce Price
   1880: built
   1904: owned by Mrs. A. F. Manning
Woodlands - lower Main Street
   designed by Irving John Gill
   1903-1904: built for Louis B. McCagg of New York
   later owned by Edith (Pulitzer) Moore (Mrs. William Moore)
   1947: burned
Wyandotte
   1904: owned by Mrs. John Biddle Porter
Yellow Cottage - owners in 1904: Miss Torrey and Miss Linzee


Mount Desert

Anchorage, The
   owned by [built for?] Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
   14 August 1979: transferred via will (Hancock County Registry of Deeds 1357:215) to Margaretta Fitler Rockefeller
   30 August 1979: purchased by Walter B. Ford II and Josephine [F.?] Ford (Hancock County Registry of Deeds 1360:440)
Craigstone
   designed by Isaac H. Green Jr. of Sayville, NY, for Henry A. Rowland
Eastholm
   1901-1902: built for Mr. and Mrs. Richard March Hoe
Eastpoint
   designed by Duncan Candler
   1909: built for Charlotte (Rhodes) Hanna (Mrs. Marcus Hanna)
Eyrie, The
   designed by Marcus T. Reynolds of Albany, NY
   1898: building completed for Samuel Fessenden Clarke
   1910: purchased by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
   1915: Duncan Candler hired to design an expansion
   1963: torn down
Felsmere
   designed by Grosvenor Atterbury
   1901-1902: built by Asa Hodgkins and Sons of Bar Harbor for Edward Cushman Bodman
Glengariff
   1891: designed by Isaac H. Green Jr. of Sayville, NY, for George Borwick Cooksey
   August 1909: purchased by Ernest B. Dane who had it torn down and had a new Glengariff built (completed in 1911)
Grayciff
   designed by Isaac H. Green Jr. of Sayville, NY, for Eugene S. Bristol
Keewaydin
   1896: designed by Isaac H. Green Jr. of Sayville, NY, for Edwin K. and Mary (Dows) Dunham
Miradero
   designed by Grosvenor Atterbury
   1901: built for Christian A. Herter
Skylands
   designed by Duncan Candler
   1923-1925: built by Byron W. Candage and Son(s?) for Edsel and Eleanor Ford
   [?]: purchased by Martha Stewart
Stoneleigh
   1882: built for Rufus R. Thomas
Wabenaki
   designed by Duncan Candler
   1906-1907: built by Byron W. Candage and Son(s?) for George Stebbins
Wild Cliff
   1901-1902: designed and built by Charles A. Candage for Alexander Mackay-Smith


Southwest Harbor



Tremont