Bayville Inn

Bayville Inn c. 1930

The present Bayville Inn and the structures that preceded it were a very important part of the community from the 1890’s to the mid-1970’s. Captain Angus McDonald and his family had their home on the land which now belongs to Phil and Karen Roberts. “Mrs. Mac”, as she was known, ran a boarding house serving mostly lobster and memorable lemon meringue pie.

In 1907, Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Backer bought the property and replaced the homestead with a fine new Bayville Inn which is still there to be admired. A large sunny living room was the scene of daily card games, jig saw puzzles and happily chattering ladies. Phil Roberts reports that in his Mother's time, there was only one male guest who regularly visited the Inn. The large dining room which ran more than 75 feet from the great stone chimney to the rear of the building was equipped to serve all the Inn's guests as well as many Bayville residents for the main meal of the day -- at noon The supper bell also rang, and a great deal of lobster stew and blueberry pie was enjoyed. The two upper floors contained 31 bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Phil's Mother, Jessie Roberts took over as manager of the Inn in the early 30's. Jessie operated a small restaurant in Boothbay Harbor during the winter months. Each Spring, the Roberts family moved refrigerators, freezers, furniture and kitchen supplies to Bayville to set up the Inn for the summer season. After WWII, Jessie bought the Inn from Mr. Fletcher, realizing a life-long dream. She continued to operate the Inn until the mid 1970's, when Phil purchased the property from his Mother and began the long process of renewing and redesigning living space and apartments. Karen Roberts has faithfully maintained the front room as guests knew it 90 years ago.

SOURCE: “Bayville, Our Second Century,” July 1998

There were other inns in Bayville, so says the present proprietor of Bayville Inn, Mrs. Jessie Roberts (Jessie to most of us.) The road to success is not paved by laziness and who knows better than Jessie. She first lived in Bayville in a two-room house with her mother and sister. The house was near the Pine Tree Inn and the Arlington Hotel. Where were these? The Pine Tree Inn was just above the Post Office, and the Arlington just on the rise of ground on the other side of the driveway that leads to Mrs. Backer's cottage. Both of these Inns were destroyed by fire. She waited on table for three dollars a week, at the age of twelve. She said, "I always had a great desire to live in the Bayville Inn and wished someday to own it. It seemed like a dream to me when I made that last payment, that the old Inn that I liked so much was mine. Now my hopes are to build it up."

Jessie, like so many good American mothers, sacrificed a son in World War II, but she has two nice sons to whom she devotes her attention. Alfred, Jr., arrived in Bayville in 1943, and Philip in 1948. The Association is most appreciative of Jessie's contribution to our civic organization by granting us the use of the Inn for our meetings.

SOURCE: "Bayville, Maine, Past and Present, Told by Those Who Know " (undated)