For $3.8 million, a dreamy, castle-like coastal escape in Maine
Built by Alan Bemis, a physicist and professor at MIT, the property has two large homes, a cabin, and a deepwater dock. See inside at realestate.boston.com.
It’s not every day you see a castle on the coast of Maine on the market. But that’s exactly what you’ll find at “High Head,” a 30-acre estate in Brooklin. Consisting of two large homes and a small cabin, the estate is listed for the first time for $3,800,000.
Located up a driveway that measures three-quarters of a mile, the estate at 158 High Head Dr. was built in 1937 by Alan Bemis, a physicist and professor at MIT. He managed to capture the construction on video, a rarity at the time. Today the whimsical houses remain nearly identical to when they were built, boasting superior craftsmanship.
The first house, known as the “Children’s House,” is a Nordic-inspired property with six bedrooms. Measuring approximately 3,700 square feet, the house has a grand dining room with a large fireplace that’s ideal for family gatherings.
The second house is a granite castle-like structure tucked on the waterfront cliffs. Known as “The Tower House,” the 2,300-square-foot space focuses on a great room with sky-high beamed ceilings and a balcony for a band. Just a few steps down leads to a room with extraordinary views of the water through expansive windows. The building also has one bedroom, a dressing room, and a beautiful screened-in porch. There is also an additional bathroom and a curved stairway that leads to the highest point of the tower. Much of the furniture is what was built for the original home in 1937.
In addition to the two main houses, there is a small cabin on the property that measures around 300 square feet. It features small built-in bunk beds, reminiscent of a train car. A pathway leads down to the dock, which provides deepwater access on Eggemoggin Reach.
The original open three-car garage, a post-and-beam structure, is still intact, as well as a boathouse that can store three additional vehicles.
While there is a conservation easement that protects the property, there is enough space for an additional building to be constructed for use year-round, said Jill Knowles of the Christopher Group, the broker on the listing.
“The two cottages really can’t be winterized because it would destroy the character, but somebody could do something a lot more contemporary,” said Knowles.
John Macone, grandson of Alan Bemis, has served as a caretaker to the property for the past 12 years.
“If you talk to people who come here for the first time, if there’s one common word they used to describe it, it’s ‘magical,’ ” said Macone.
As for who purchases the property, Macone said he has just one specification.
“My one request is that it’s somebody nice,” he said. “A decent person but ideally somebody who gets the magic of the place.”
See more photos of the home below:
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