Claremont Hotel (Southwest Harbor, Maine)
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The Claremont Hotel (referred to as The Claremont Hotel) is a historic hotel on Claremont Road in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Built in 1883, the main hotel building is one of the only 19th-century hotels to survive on
Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island (MDI; ) in Hancock County, Maine, is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of it is the List of islands of the United States by area, 52nd-largest island in the United States, the sixth-largest island in th ...
. In 2020,
Kennebunkport Kennebunkport is a resort town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,629 people at the 2020 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. The town center, the area in and around Dock Squa ...
-based Claremont Hospitality LLC led by Tim Harrington, has acquired the hotel for an undisclosed price. Harrington has invested $20+ million in a nine-month redevelopment of the property which was completed in time for the 2021 summer season. The hotel facilities now include 34 guest rooms, four suites (in the Phillips House) and 12 cottages overlooking Somes Sound. It also has two restaurants and a bar.


Main building

The main building of the Claremont was built in 1883 by Jesse Pease, a retired sea captain, and was one of the first large hotels to be built on
Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island (MDI; ) in Hancock County, Maine, is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of it is the List of islands of the United States by area, 52nd-largest island in the United States, the sixth-largest island in th ...
. It is a -story wood-frame structure, finished in clapboards, with a cross-gabled hip roof and a stone foundation. The main (west-facing) facade is seven bays wide, with a simple port-cochere near the south end providing entrance to the building. A single-story porch wraps around the south and east facades (the latter facing Somes Sound). From the eastern facade a broad lawn extends down to the waterfront, where there is a boathouse. The interior has been modernized, but with attention to maintaining original Victorian features. The building was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1978. The building currently has 24 private rooms, as well as Xanthus, the hotel's restaurant. The hotel was run by Jesse Pease and his wife until his death in 1900. She continued to operate the hotel until her death in 1917, but sold the property in 1908 to Joseph Phillips, a local doctor. Phillips and later his son ran the property until 1971.


Cabins

The property includes fourteen cabins, sited to give views of Somes Sound. They are stylistically varied, with some built in the style of traditional Maine log cabins, and others in modern architectural styles. Most provide accommodations for up to four guests, although some only have space for two, and the Rowse House accommodates eight. The cottages are available between May and October for daily rentals; the Rowse House is rented by the week.


See also

*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Maine __NOTOC__ This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Maine. This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hancock County, Main ...


References


Further reading


Cole, John N., "Claremont hotel, Southwest Harbor, Maine : A Landmark's Narrative History" (1994)


External links


The Claremont Hotel web siteHotels in Maine
{{National Register of Historic Places Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine Victorian architecture in Maine Hotel buildings completed in 1883 Buildings and structures in Hancock County, Maine Hotels in Maine National Register of Historic Places in Hancock County, Maine 1883 establishments in Maine Hotels established in 1883