The farmhouse and barn where built from timber felled, hand hewn and sawn on site. The old millpond still exists behind the house.
What makes the farm special is that from the moment you start down the driveway you get a growing feeling that you are leaving the world behind you and entering a restful secluded oasis. The drive (six- tenths of a mile long) extends over a several dips and rises, passes through some dense forestation, until you reach a point where fields begin to open up around you. Passing the "Oak field", then the white gate you will begin to wonder where the house is, as you still haven't seen it. Then comes the last left turn and there it is. You'll go by the heated pool to a parking lot and draw up before red extended L-shaped Cape.
The main part of the house is original and characterized by Pumpkin Pine floors and paneling. Much of it was constructed using " King's boards, which where a hanging offense to cut. When Royal Navy inspectors landed in Pemaquid to take trees back to England for ship construction, two things happened to change and preserve the Farm. The Jones had to plaster over all the King's boards to avoid the gallows, and the road which used to pass right in front of the Farm had to be rebuilt on the other side of Little Biscay pond because the long tree burdened wagons could not make the right angle turn at the farm house.
The new road caused the driveway to be so long and created the "Island "effect so unique to the property. The house truly is one of the only old properties not right on the road. Covering the paneling and beams meant that by the 1930's, when the Thompsons stripped it off, the underlying wood had aged and cured to produce the special glowing color one experiences today.
The 400 sq. foot living room has beamed ceilings and a large fireplace, which incorporates an Indian fireplace. There are two double bedrooms on the ground floor, a dining room, a study, and screened breezeway, and an eat in Kitchen. There are three bedrooms, two double and a single upstairs. In all there are five bedrooms. Three of the beds are built in which creates a cozy effect. These share a full Bath.
The Farm has invited return visits from a number of people from all parts of the U.S and several foreign countries, each of who has found it to be a remarkable retreat and a place to hike, jog, read, write, paint or just settle back and gather oneself. Why come to Maine's Mid-Coast?
(The MID-COAST being that part which lies between Brunswick to the West and Camden on the East.)
Why Bristol/Damariscotta in Particular? (Being located right in the center of the MID-COAST.)
Maine is best Known for Kennebunkport and Freeport South Of Portland, or for Bar Harbor (Acadia National Park) three hours North East from Portland. Boothbay Harbor is part of the Mid-Coast and full of tourists, but the rest of the mid-coast is different.
Among New Englanders, the Mid-Coast region is the area of choice. We do not get the Tour Buses and hordes of Discount shoppers, but we find ourselves living among real Mainers, in real towns. Yes there have our two high priced Seafood restaurants, and a couple of T-shirt shops, but we go to the Pemaquid fisherman's co-op at half the price and eat our Lobsters, on crude benches out in the open sitting side by side with families from the area. We go to bean suppers to support the volunteer fire department, and the craft fairs put on by area civic groups and churches.
Damariscotta, with its Hospital, Fabulous Library, Arts Center, Community recreation center, performing arts theater, and a number of other cultural assets, has attracted year round residents from all over New England. These people have contributed to making the town a uniquely attractive place to live. Route 1 bypasses the town and that means the tourists doing the Boothbay, Camden and Bar Harbor circuit usually have no Idea that Damariscotta and the Pemaquid Peninsular even exist.
The towns of Waldoboro and Damariscotta head the Pemaquid peninsula. The peninsula has a series of lakes and ponds running North-South down the middle. One can kayak some twenty miles along these interconnected lakes.
At the bottom of the peninsula is the Pemaquid light, which appears on the Maine Quarter coin. It was voted there by the people of Maine. Nearby on the East Coast is New Harbor, with its back cove which is the second most photographed place in the State. On the West side is Pemaquid Harbor, with the Beach and the Old Fort.
There are 10 Art Galleries in addition to the Round Top Center for the Arts. The area is home to at least fifty artists. The Portland symphony performs several times a year. The Peninsula is the summer home of the Da Ponte String quartet. Folk singers, and Jazz groups perform every week in various venues. The Audubon camp is located on an Island off Round Pond harbor. They have nature lectures and walks for interested parties on a regular basis.
There are a dozen or so antique emporiums. In August The Miles Memorial Hospital Sale is a huge affair attracting buyers from all the New England States.
We have a number of quite separate quaint Villages: New Harbor, Sheepscot, Round Pond, Whitefield, South Bristol, and Union. Each is everyone's idea of a New England village complete with white churches and colonial period homes. Union hosts the country fair, a real old time fair with sheep, cattle and pie judging.
You hear the Maine accent. You feel you are among the locals, and yet we have first class dining spots such as my favorite the Newcastle Inn. Another popular spot is the Breakfast only restaurant located right next to the Colby & Gale gas station in downtown Damariscotta.
The consumers are sophisticated enough to support stores which stock Parma Ham, Gourmet coffee and cheeses. Real fresh baked Semolina breads, health foods, and meditation groups. Every Friday there is a farmer's market offering organic foods that are locally grown.
We have lectures on a wide array of subjects every week at the library. We have a foreign film showing there as well. The Mid-coast Book Shop is really one of the best in the country.
One can hike, fish, ride, cycle, sail, canoe, go sea kayaking, or play tennis squash, racquetball and golf.
GOLF. Wawenock (1928) is a classic old time course with tiny greens and a membership which includes doctors, nurses, lawyers, machinists, lobstermen, telephone repairmen, carpenters, mechanics, artists, singer-song writers, authors, college professors, poets, roofers, employees from the retail stores, guys who pump gas, and even a few summer residents. Wawenock reflects the whole of the community. Annual family membership is only $415.00 and visitors can buy transferable 10 round cards for $200.00.
Within driving distance we have courses in Whitefield, Rockland, Boothbay, Rockport, Brunswick, Augusta, Rockland, along with a dozen more. The most popular day trip takes you by boat from New Harbor to the Island of Monhegan which is the and has been the summer home of a plethora of great names in American art. Their studios are open to visitors and you can meet the artists and see their work in progress. You can walk to the famous cliffs, and through the forest where the locals build miniature fairy houses for your entertainment.
We are an hour from Portland with the Elizabeth Noyes endowed fine art Museum and old Town waterfront district. Three of the countries finest Private Colleges: Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby are an hour or less away. Camden known for its tall ships, the Farnsworth Art Museum, and the views from Mount Battie is 28 miles away. Just before Camden is Rockport, home of Andre the seal. Owl's Head antique aircraft and automobile Museum is twenty miles away. In Brunswick we have the Summer Theater to compliment our own local theater.
Or you can just bring that book you have always wanted to read, or write the book you have in you and relax in the private world of Two Century Farm.