Welcome to Harbor House, a family-designed and built timber-framed, 18th century reproduction, gambrel roof home on mid-coast Maine’s St. George peninsula. Harbor House is delightfully sited on two-and-a-half acres of ocean front property with private dock facing a secluded harbor, several islands, and the open waters of the Atlantic. It is located on a private road away from the bustle of summer traffic, yet only two miles from the Port Clyde working waterfront and Monhegan ferry, and three miles from the restaurants, library, bakery, public tennis courts, and yachting fleet of Tenants Harbor. Drift Inn Beach, a public beach great for swimming, and Marshall Point Lighthouse are also close at hand.
Let’s start out on Harbor House’s broad south-facing deck with its glorious ocean views, perfect for lingering over your morning cup of coffee, watching windjammers coast along on the southwesterly breeze, taking an afternoon nap on the hammock, grilling today’s catch for dinner on the gas grill, or star gazing after dark, with the Milky Way so close you feel you can almost touch it. On the deck you are literally surrounded by nature’s bounty, sharing the bracing sea air with the ospreys busily tending to their young on Grandfather’s Island, great blue herons wading in the harbor at low tide, and kingfishers perched on the dock waiting for you to snap a photo. Out on the dock linger over the views of the surf breaking on rocky ledges, intriguing tide pools, and the scent of beach roses and raspberries. Don’t be at all surprised to come face-to-face with an inquisitive seal or to hear the soaring cry of loons at the mouth of the harbor.
Moving into Harbor House, you pass through a cheery sun room with tile flooring, ready to receive the treasures you picked up from your seaside stroll or your sandy shoes and beach toys. Through the glass doors now you are in the living room with its pleasant mix of contemporary and antique furniture, and fireplace (firewood included) if the nights get chilly. Your eye is drawn to the exposed post and beam framing of hand-finished red and white oak cut from trees in Amherst, Massachusetts. The construction technique used is mortise and tenon joinery with oak pegs locking the frame in place. Notice, too, decorative details such as chamfering of the primary beams with lambs tongue stops and extensive raised panels used as wainscoting, all harkening back to New England’s architectural past. To your left is a complete modern kitchen with two refrigerators and stocked with all the utensils you’ll need to prepare simple or lavish meals, and dining area that can comfortably accommodate ten.
On the main level you will also find the cozy library, with a collection of books about Maine and the sea, thrillers and classics, and a second working fireplace as well as cable TV. For those needing to stay in touch with the outside world, please note that Internet wifi has recently been installed at Harbor House, so by all means bring your laptops! Overflow guests can sleep in the library on a comfortable queen inflatable bed provided for that purpose. You will also find a half bath on this level, and an outside shower open to the sky that is great to start your day with a shower as the sun filters through the leaves of nearby birches, or to wash off sand and salt at day’s end.