| Distinctive Furnishings, Design & Accents |
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| The Weare Mansion Cape Neddick, Maine |
This house first came into the possession of the Weare family in 1720. At that time, this small
house was enlarged into an L-shape, adding a long room on the west side. A large pile of stones
that supported the chimney-work of this house is still evident under the floorboards of the
Mountain Road entry of the current house. The great half-round support timbers under the
current dining room may be the oldest documented structure in York and is certainly the oldest
in Cape Neddick. Descendants of the first Joseph Weare lived in this house through the 1760’s.
In the 1760’s, Jeremiah Weare Jr. and Lucy Webber married, moved in to the house and then
rebuilt it into a classic center chimney cape structure. The current dining room with the large
fireplace and brick bake oven served as the typical 18th century kitchen and remained the
kitchen until 1840. The fireplaces were the central focus of all the surrounding rooms and were
all fitted with mantel shelves. The mantels, particularly the one in the current living room, are
perfect examples of 18th century style and craftsmanship. As of 1840, William Weare, a
grandson of Jeremiah Weare Jr., owned the house.
In 1840 Captain Theodore Weare Jr., a prominent merchant, ship owner and another grandson of
Jeremiah Weare Jr., bought the property from William Weare. He then raised the main house by
one story (now 2 ½ stories) and added a new 2 story L- wing and a 2 story barn. All of the
additions were done in the popular Greek Revival architectural style. This house has been
frequently photographed and painted. The proportions of the wide frieze boards and deep roof
overhang make this one of the handsomest antique houses in Cape Neddick.
The interior of the newly expanded house has numerous architectural details including two
curved staircases finished in walnut, large windows with fluted woodwork and the orginal grain
painted trim.
In 1903 Captain Weare’s last surviving heir, his daughter Mary Ann, left the house and estate to
her adopted brother, David Farwell. Farwell operated an orchard and saw mill across the street
and a hardware store at what is now the "Pie In The Sky" bakery. Unmarried and without heirs,
David Farwell died in 1917 and left the house to his housekeeper, sixteen year-old Susie Leer.
Susie Leer later married Percy Hutchins and they raised their family in this house between 1917
and 1960. Percy Hutchins passed away in the 1950’s and Susie Leer Hutchins finally sold the
property to a Mr. Floyd Arcola of Muncy, New York in 1960.
Mr. Arcola owned the house for 32 years but never lived in it or completed any of his planned
renovations. During this period the house declined to a remarkably decrepit condition. As of 1992
the first c. 1900 wiring system was still in use and no central heating system had ever been
installed. Despite the general deterioration, the house retained every original feature and detail
from the 1840’s.
In 1992 Roland Labrie and Paul Mazgelis purchased the the property. Over the next 10 years
they carried out an extensive renovation to preserve the many special details of the 1840 house.
For example, the cellar’s huge brick arch supporting the main chimney remains intact, as well as
the copper laundry tubs, the water cistern, and main fireplace bake oven. All of the door and trim
were restored to their original hand painted grain finish and most of the windows retain their
original glass panes. A new furnace, hot water boiler, roof and master bedroom were added to the
building. Both men operated their respective businesses from the property and Mr. Labrie used
the first floor of the barn as a showroom for his hand painted furniture business, “The Painted
Piece”. In 2002 they moved to Weston, Vermont to run "The Judge Wilder Inn", a bed &
breakfast. Roland also continues to operate his painted furniture business there.
In 2002 the property was sold to Judy and Dave Brown, the current owners. In addition to living
in the house, they renovated the barn and opened a home décor business, "Cottage Home", in the
late fall of 2002. A decorative garden section was added to their business in 2004. The Browns
recently completed a kitchen renovation, which updated the appliances and workspace, while
preserving the historic integrity of the house.
Their most recent project is the addition of this website and the on-line store to their business.
The Cottage Home website, created by their daughter, Sarah, was launched Summer 2006. The
Browns also purchased the small house across the street from the Weare Mansion and in the
spring of 2008, the "Corporate Headquarters" of Cottage Home officially set up office there.
house was enlarged into an L-shape, adding a long room on the west side. A large pile of stones
that supported the chimney-work of this house is still evident under the floorboards of the
Mountain Road entry of the current house. The great half-round support timbers under the
current dining room may be the oldest documented structure in York and is certainly the oldest
in Cape Neddick. Descendants of the first Joseph Weare lived in this house through the 1760’s.
In the 1760’s, Jeremiah Weare Jr. and Lucy Webber married, moved in to the house and then
rebuilt it into a classic center chimney cape structure. The current dining room with the large
fireplace and brick bake oven served as the typical 18th century kitchen and remained the
kitchen until 1840. The fireplaces were the central focus of all the surrounding rooms and were
all fitted with mantel shelves. The mantels, particularly the one in the current living room, are
perfect examples of 18th century style and craftsmanship. As of 1840, William Weare, a
grandson of Jeremiah Weare Jr., owned the house.
In 1840 Captain Theodore Weare Jr., a prominent merchant, ship owner and another grandson of
Jeremiah Weare Jr., bought the property from William Weare. He then raised the main house by
one story (now 2 ½ stories) and added a new 2 story L- wing and a 2 story barn. All of the
additions were done in the popular Greek Revival architectural style. This house has been
frequently photographed and painted. The proportions of the wide frieze boards and deep roof
overhang make this one of the handsomest antique houses in Cape Neddick.
The interior of the newly expanded house has numerous architectural details including two
curved staircases finished in walnut, large windows with fluted woodwork and the orginal grain
painted trim.
In 1903 Captain Weare’s last surviving heir, his daughter Mary Ann, left the house and estate to
her adopted brother, David Farwell. Farwell operated an orchard and saw mill across the street
and a hardware store at what is now the "Pie In The Sky" bakery. Unmarried and without heirs,
David Farwell died in 1917 and left the house to his housekeeper, sixteen year-old Susie Leer.
Susie Leer later married Percy Hutchins and they raised their family in this house between 1917
and 1960. Percy Hutchins passed away in the 1950’s and Susie Leer Hutchins finally sold the
property to a Mr. Floyd Arcola of Muncy, New York in 1960.
Mr. Arcola owned the house for 32 years but never lived in it or completed any of his planned
renovations. During this period the house declined to a remarkably decrepit condition. As of 1992
the first c. 1900 wiring system was still in use and no central heating system had ever been
installed. Despite the general deterioration, the house retained every original feature and detail
from the 1840’s.
In 1992 Roland Labrie and Paul Mazgelis purchased the the property. Over the next 10 years
they carried out an extensive renovation to preserve the many special details of the 1840 house.
For example, the cellar’s huge brick arch supporting the main chimney remains intact, as well as
the copper laundry tubs, the water cistern, and main fireplace bake oven. All of the door and trim
were restored to their original hand painted grain finish and most of the windows retain their
original glass panes. A new furnace, hot water boiler, roof and master bedroom were added to the
building. Both men operated their respective businesses from the property and Mr. Labrie used
the first floor of the barn as a showroom for his hand painted furniture business, “The Painted
Piece”. In 2002 they moved to Weston, Vermont to run "The Judge Wilder Inn", a bed &
breakfast. Roland also continues to operate his painted furniture business there.
In 2002 the property was sold to Judy and Dave Brown, the current owners. In addition to living
in the house, they renovated the barn and opened a home décor business, "Cottage Home", in the
late fall of 2002. A decorative garden section was added to their business in 2004. The Browns
recently completed a kitchen renovation, which updated the appliances and workspace, while
preserving the historic integrity of the house.
Their most recent project is the addition of this website and the on-line store to their business.
The Cottage Home website, created by their daughter, Sarah, was launched Summer 2006. The
Browns also purchased the small house across the street from the Weare Mansion and in the
spring of 2008, the "Corporate Headquarters" of Cottage Home officially set up office there.
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