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Portland, Sunday Telegram Nov.22 1964 By Alice Jordan, area correspondent This article appeared as the faded rose of the Lakes Region was about to be demolished: Workmen started the first of this month (November) to dismantle the 120-foot long hotel, working slowly and saving as much material as possible. The Inn, closed since 1951, has slowly been deteriorating, with peeling paint, broken windows, and clapboards giving evidence of its neglect. Purchased by Milton Garrnet of Cape Neddick from Frank Brooks Jr., the Inn has been in his family since 1916 with the exception of a short period from 1929 to 1933 when it was
operated by Philip Dincin of Boston. The sale did not include the seven cabins nearby and Garrnet has given no indication of what will be done with the property on which the hotel now stands. Charles Goodrich, who also owned the Songo River Steamboat Company, to accommodate his many passengers, built the Inn. At the time, rough lumber sold for $4.00 a thousand board feet and finished $6.00. Carpenters earned $1.50 a day. When the Inn opened its doors to the first steamboat full of passengers in 1900, it had a staff of 85 and its own dock and baggage station at lakeside. The sprawling wooden structure has five floors, 72 rooms with complete baths and 14 public baths. It had two beautiful stairways leading up those first four flights or you could take the elevator. Lacking a central heating system, guests depended on huge fireplaces to take the chill off in early spring and fall. The fireplace in the dining room, which seated 225 people, had the words “ Eat, Drink and Be Merry” carved in its 12 foot mantel. Another 12-foot fireplace graced the lobby. I am told that 150 cords of wood were burned each summer, not only to keep the chill away but heat water, cook meals and do laundry. The view of Naples Bay combined with the Inns private beach were enough to attract entire families to spend the season there from June to Labor Day. At the start 16 horses were kept in the stable to take guests sightseeing or to taxi them between the steamboat landing and the Inn. The advent of the automobile found 16 model- T Fords replacing the horses. Famous entertainers and bands, including Eddie Cantor and Rudy Vallee helped make the inn both popular and famous. But the automobile, high-speed highways and the increasing popularity of motels has spelled doom for the once-famous resort hotel and scores of others like it. When the Inn closed its doors the 30,000 square foot front lawn became a hay field. Grass and weeds grew up through the cracks in the sidewalk and road leading to it. By the time demolition was completed in April of that year, grass and weeds will push up through the bare earth where once stood the proud and bustling Bay of Naples Inn. I was a young girl of 17 when they tore down the Inn. I was heartbroken to see the bulldozers push up a pile of lumber that used to be that beautiful landmark and set it afire. Shortly after or before, the Union Station was torn down for a mall. Portland Greater Landmarks was born from that and have saved many historic buildings there. But, sadly for us there was only ONE Bay of Naples Inn.
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