Summertime in the Belgrades

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This Old House . . . in Maine
A Monmouth and Winthrop Legacy

When I first bought this gracious racehorse farm from the Woolworth family, I wondered what life was like here when the standardbreds grazed the front pasture. I wondered how the sound of the horses training on the racetrack might have echoed off Lake Cobbossee . . . if it were as much a part of these lake towns as is the call of the loon.

I imagined the "gentry" playing croquet on the lawn, tennis on the courts, and traversing the waters of the lake. I pictured them strolling the garden paths, riding horseback, and wandering this nature rich acreage. My wonderings seemed focused on the Woolworth history . . . but only at first.

Fred Woolworth is a friendly and outgoing neighbor and has occasionally shared stories of his boyhood. He has shared pictures of his father and brother, Norman Woolworth, Sr. and Jr. with their beloved horses. I've researched a bit of the fame of the late Norman Jr., a most respected and fun-loving equestrian.

However, much of the history of our home comes, unbidden, from town folk who have worked, played, or lived here. Many have ancestors who took great pride in this estate, and are very much a part of this old house.

Currently, I wonder, NOT of the famous folks who have been said to traverse there halls, but, moreover, of the many local folks who have been here, who have been a large part of the upkeep and pride of this gracious home. (I am told there were forty-eight plus staff employed on the Woolworth estate in the fifties, sixties, and seventies.)

A few months into restoration, Tom and I were greeted by a woman in her late fifties, whose parents were maid and stable manager here long ago. She talked of running in the fields, picking wildflowers, and climbing the ladder in the barn to call her Dad to dinner. Her eyes sparkled with the memory of her times here, and of the savory aroma of the cook's doings in the large kitchen.

The Helen Anderson Library, named after a favorite Monmouth grade school teacher. Click the photo to enlarge it. Note the horses painted on the tiles around the fireplace opening.

Last year, we had the good luck of being able to host five of six sisters who lived in this farmhouse between 1925 and 1936, before the Woolworth family bought it. They told us where yet lie some girlhood buried treasure . . . "over there, buried under the pine trees more than sixty years ago!" They regaled how they slid down the hall banister for fun, and noted that many of their bedrooms are now gracious private baths in this current estate. (There was neither electricity nor plumbing when these ladies lived here.)

They told me where the ice house once stood, and where the old red school house stood on the corner of our property. They were amazed when they saw how their old haylofts were replaced with five MORE bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a family room — all an expansion of the original farmhouse.

Today, when my guests and I sit in the rounded window seats with curved glass, I recall the visit of the grandson of the patient craftsman who created them. "Grandpa" shared the progress and pride of making them with his family . . . they are a part of his family folklore.

The grandson of the full time blacksmith toured here also, and he explained the history of the barn locks, his Grandfather's patented invention, to prevent horses from escaping the stalls. He, too, speaks with pride of his boyhood visits and his grand-dad's involvement and ingenuity.

We have met cooks, maids, hairdressers, and even pilots for the Woolworth family, who faithfully guard the privacy of the family and share wonderful individual memories of the place. They all say that the home and grounds have a magic of their own, and we agree.

I constantly meet people at greenhouses, restaurants, hardware stores, foodstores, museums, churches, etc. who have a vibrant history with this former Woolworth home. Locals talk of helping with the haying, running with the sheep, playing basketball in the large barns, helping gardeners weed, playing ball in the fields, swimming in the lake in the Woolworth harbor. This was, indeed, their play area, too.

The Royal Suite

Town folks don't stop with just the sharing of memories. They visit. We recognized a justifiable curiosity about our home and we welcomed a very unexpected SIX HUNDRED PEOPLE for our weekend Open House Tour in October of 2004! Indeed, we often feel like "stewards" here, instead of owners.

Somehow, just when Tom and I are quite fatigued by this daunting and ongoing restoration, a local and friendly soul drops by just to say "thank you" to us for our work here; they notice.

Town folks often bring us little "gifts"' to assure that they and their families will remain a part of this place. One lovely neighbor brought us a pennyroyal plant to keep ants away and others brought herbs and perennials, plants that once grew here. We've been given Woolworth soda fountain pumps, and fifties-era counter stools. Our neighbor gave us a desk that was once here. We have been blessed with toy railroad rains, wagon wheels for the gardens, smiles and blessings of our neighbors. They are our cheerleaders.

In our RARE quiet times, we watch and wonder at he bald eagle flying out over our pastures, and we watch the horses graze lazily. We welcome the sunrise over the lake and the changes in the big sky view from here on the hill. We listen to the squeals of children as they discover lunar moths, dragonflies, colorful frogs, and fallen nests. AND we realize that we are passionately committed to preserving this rural peace. We want to share this, the very best of Maine, not only with bed and breakfast guests, but with our neighbors as well.

We continue to work with LOCAL electricians, roofers, painters, masons, realtors, gardeners, cooks, builders, plumbers, caterers, housecleaners, etc. They often bring their spouses, children, grandchildren or neighbors.

Actually, the housekeeper's daughter sleeps in a guestroom as I write. . . . The memories build and the legacy of "This Old House" continues. . . .

This Old House is the former racehorse farm of the Woolworth family and is on Route 135 in Monmouth. It was purchased in December 2002 by the current owners, who have restored the 29 rooms in the house itself, with hopes of continuing restoration of the historic racehorse breeding barns. In May 2003 it opened as A Rise and Shine Bed and Breakfast. It is owned and operated by the author, Lorette Comeau, and her partner, a "Monmouth grown feller," Tom Crocker, who is a singer/entertainer. For more information call 933-9876 or visit www.RiseAndShineBB.com.

This article originally appeared in two parts, in the June 24 and July 1 issues.

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