Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-16
Mouse Island Hotel Goes
With $4,000. Loss.
Three Hour Blaze Entirely De-
siroys 80-Room Structure.
All from Boothbay PowefIess..Is
Watched by Hundreds.

Boothbay, Me, Aug. 15.-(SpeciaD -
The beautiful Samoset Hotel, located
on Mouse island, was destroyed by fire,
Thursday afternoon, in 3-hour blaze
TIE loss is estimated at about $4,000,
y It'll an insurance of about 100000
The fire broke out, at 100, around
i''r kitchen chimney situated in the an
rex at the west of the building prop
e. 1t was discovered by the chef of
! tie kitchen squad, Nick Tinos. who i'm
nediately gave the alarm. AS a result
of his quick work the guests. num-
ring about $50, were enabled to make
tier escape without serious danger
| .iany. however, lost much of their
! % rsonal belongings.
Within three hours of the discovery
/ of the fire nothing remained but the
smoking ruins of what had been a
handsome structure of so rooms
| 'rhe chief of the Boothbay fire de-
pertinent responded to the call for aid
| with 20 men, but the fire was then so
far advanced that little could be done
- hold it in check.
The blaze was the most spectacular
ever seen in this vicinity and was
viewed by hundreds gathered from the
many resorts nearby.
! The hotel was owned by X. H. Rich
! ards OF Boothbay Harbor. and recent
| ~ had been thoroughly renovated and
CT arged It has been managed for the
| D: st three or four seasons by Mr. Rich
| ards son-in- law. Fred Dodge.
| Among the guests were several Lew
| ison people, including Mrs. Callahan
| ard family wife Of the State auditor.
| The Mouse Island hotel was built
| more than 40 years ago, being one of
| the first summer houses on the coast of
| Maine Long before Squirrel Island
WIS a popular resort, the Samoset
/ louise at Mouse Island was a great
81 thering place for excursion parties,
| and was considered one of the most
| luxurious summer hotels in the coun-
| try.
The stone house which is near the
| Samoset, was butt more than three
generations ago. and is as fine an ex-
| ample as can be tound anywhere. of
I English gothic architecture being mod
/ cIad after the stone houses Of early
! England.
The island. which was owned, inelud-
ing the hotel. by syndicate of Maine
people, and which fer a time vas man.
1 aged by Landlord Haines of Skow
y began was sold. as we have said, some
half dozen years ago. 10 r. II Rich
/. y rds who formerly owned tie OLD
Squirrel Inn For many years there wa:
. persistent rumor that one of the lead
ing yacht clubs of the country-tht
i Eastern Yacht Club of Marblehead, OIL
4 the New York Yacht Cluh-was to pur-
, chase it as a yachting station.
= The house itself was long, 21Z
/ story wooden structure of very plain
| style: wide veranda upon the south
| side. with dining room and music hal!
upon the first floor. The patronage of
/ the house was peculiar in the fact that
| it was continuous from year 10 year,
: the same people coming, season after
F, season, and to these i'm particular, the
| burning OF the house will be a loss
! which they Will deeply feel.
1t is doubted if any hotel on the coast
has in its time seen more fun and fes-
| tivity. more dances and more joy maxi
/ ing than the old Samoset. Thirty-five
| wears age, Mouse island was the favor
/, tie rendezvous for Sunday school ex-
cursions, by the barge Yosemite and
I the various Kennebec river boats. All
| that has years since passed away and
! the closing chapter was read, yester-
/ day, when the house itself, went up in
smone.