Our History

Historic Overview

Newagen was the first settlement in Boothbay Harbor by English fishermen in the 1600s but these early inhabitants were soon wiped out by the Indian Wars. Scottish and Irish settlers next discovered the rugged coast and abundant waters. The community relied heavily upon the industries of brick making, farming, ice cutting and ship building. The early name of Newagen was Capmanwagan which means "Cape of Good Trading." The origins of Newagen Seaside Inn dates to 1816. It was a popular resort destination. The inn was owned by the Brooks family for many years. The cast of "Carousel" including Frank Sinatra stayed at the Inn and Newagen has a rich history of hosting Maine governors. In 1943 the original Inn burned but within three months the property had been rebuilt in the Colonial Revival style and has warmly welcomed guests to the coast of Maine for over 60 years.

The Complete History

Early History
Southport was first settled by English fishermen in the 1600s but these early inhabitants were soon wiped out by the Indian Wars. Scottish and Irish settlers next discovered the rugged coast and abundant waters. The community relied upon the industries of brick making, farming, ice cutting and ship building.

The Wawenocks were friendly and helpful to the first settlers and would probably have continued in friendship through the years if they had not received heinous treatment from the early traders. In 1617, a plague descended upon the mighty tribe, and nearly wiped them out. The white people who were among them did not contract the disease. The Indians were never numerous after that.

Captain Christopher Levett, one of England's most prestigious navigators, wrote in 1623 as follows:" The next place I came was to Capmanwagan, a place where nine ships fished this year. But I liked it not for a plantation, for I could see little good timber and less good ground; there I stayed four nights, in which time came many savages with their wives and children, and some of good account among them, as Menawormet … Cogawesco and Somerset, all Sagamores (second rank chiefs), who have been found to be very faithful to the English.

Newagen's Early Beginnings
The only known person on Cape Newagen Island during that time was John Chaples, who noted on a deed given to Samuel Ball some years later, that he had been living on the Cape since 1725. He sold one-third of the Island to Mr. Ball for $300. In the deed, Mr. Chaples used an old stone house as a boundary mark. The same old stone building was standing until the swimming pool at Newagen was constructed. Then the house was torn down and the rocks used in a wall. On the shore, not far from the inn, is a depression in a ledge which is called Chaples' chair , since legend has it that he sat in the chair and shot seabirds, on which he subsisted.

The Cape became a summer colony when Cortland Wilson began to take paying guests at the Newagen House. It was the beautiful old Preble homestead, built in 1816, but additions thoughtlessly applied, caused it to lose all semblance of its original self. For a time, this inn was run by J. Dana Payson in conjunction with Cozy Harbor House. Then it was bought by Joshua Brooks.

In 1925 a contractor was engaged to construct a tempered salt water pool on the shores of Cape Harbor. It became an important drawing card immediately. He also built several cottages on his extensive west shore frontage. The Inn quickly became one of the most prestigious on the coast. Unfortunately the pool was deemed irreparable and filled in 2001. Private cottages were built in the east shore of Newagen, among them those which came to be known as Minister's Row because they were occupied each summer by ministers.

Jerry's Island , which forms the southern breakwater for Cape Harbor was the summer home of Margaret Hamilton of the Wizard of Oz fame. The island got its name from the younger brother of Eli Nelson, Jeremiah. It was part of his farm. It is also thought to be the site of trading stages in the early years.

Tragedy hits Newagen - A New Beginning
The building burned in 1943. The cause was unknown, but local lore says it was deliberately set as a signal to German U-boats stationed off shore that it was safe to come ashore. The dynamic Mr. Brooks would not accept defeat. Joshua Brooks found that while wartime regulations prohibited new projects, facilities destroyed by fire could be rebuilt. Continuous telephone calling revealed a stock of lumber here, plumbing equipment there, furniture, kitchen stock. Local fisherman practiced their second vocation of carpentry. With a week to go before the scheduled opening on July 1 and not a brushful of paint applied, Mr. Brooks induced forty painters on a government construction job, miles away, to spend the week at Newagen putting on a quick-drying paint. Almost miraculously Newagen Inn was ready.

Joshua Brooks died in 1949 but his family continued to run the inn for many years. The inn was purchased by the Pine Tree Conservation Society in 1969. This marked its downfall as they were not interested in the inn, only in the property. The word seaside was added to the Inn's name in1979 by the then tenant Clarice Yentsch (founder of Bigelow Labs).

Environmental writer Rachel Carson (Silent Spring, The Sea Around Us) spent much time at Newagen and the plaque at the inn commemorates the spot where her ashes were scattered. The cast of Carousel including Frank Sinatra stayed at the Inn and Newagen has a rich history of hosting Maine Governor's. Peter and Heidi Larsen leased the inn for several years and then bought it in 1987. Downeast said it would last a year. They brought it back from dismal repair to build a loyal base of repeat guests. Scott and Corinne Larson purchased the inn in December of 2000 and did a complete renovation while maintaining the charm and grace of the old property.