The Madockawando Lodge And Annex: 1886-1917

The Madockawando Lodge was built as a 'Clubhouse' in 1886 for investors in the 'New England Land Company'.  These investors included Levi Gunn, Newell Snow, Francis McGee Thompson, George E. Rogers, Eben A. Hall and W.F. Smart, all of Greenfield, Massachusetts.  Thompson had summered in Christmas Cove but moved to the Clubhouse in August of 1886 after it's completion.  The board quickly voted to open the building as an Inn the following summer and changed the name to Madockawando Lodge, in honor of an Indian Chief from the 18th century.   The following year (1887)  an 'Annex' was built to increase capacity.  The Annex was located on the top of the hill between the present-day croquet and tennis courts.  

The hotel and annex were managed by many people over the years:

1887-1889: Walter Gunn (son of Levi) and others.

1890-1899: Edwin Rogers, uncle of George E. Rogers. View his Promotional Brochure from 1890. 

1900-1902: Several different people including Albion P. Gamage of South Bristol

1903-1905: Sarah Butler, who built Ledgemere (Armstrong) Cottage in 1906.  View her Promotional Brochure. 

1906-1909 Arthur Race of Boothbay, son of Alfred Race, captain of the Steamship Enterprise that made daily stops at heron during the Hotel era.

1910-1913: W. R. Bucknam.   View his Promotional Brochure.  

1914: Hotel not open for business

1915-1917: Andrew Rolaw. 

The Hotel and Annex burned to the ground on September 6, 1917, Never to be rebuilt.  Listen to Sarah and Harold Elley's first-hand account of the Hotel/Annex fire.



Hotel and Annex Photo Gallery

24 photo(s) Updated on: Tuesday, September 27, 2022
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  • 'Club House' during construction, 1886 (note the incomplete framing in back). The north porch is open, and there are 2 staircases on east side. The center path has not yet been built.
  • The Annex, as seen from the Barnacle in the 1890s. Note the rain barrel and water pipe going downhill to the east.
  • Hotel letterhead,1890
  • This is the hotel a few years after construction, early 1890s perhaps. The back has been extended and connects to the outbuildings. The north porch is now enclosed. The fir tree is slightly taller.
  • Group of Cottage owners and Hotel Guests on the Hotel steps, 1892. Photo includes ancestors of the Signell and Alpha clans.
  • View of Annex, Sea Shell (Morris) and Barnacle Cottages from the second story or cupola of the Madockawando Lodge. Picture probably from around 1900. Note the steamer in the background.
  • 1897 view of the Annex from the Hotel. The croquet court has not yet been built. The boardwalk connecting the Hotel and Annex is visible to the right.
  • The only known picture of the east side of the Annex, taken in 1897 from the path in front of the Igloo. You can see the Annex was built on the hillside.
  • Hotel, 1897, as seen from the Annex. The Croquet court has not yet been leveled.
  • View of the Annex, Tennis Court and Point of View Cottage from the second story of the Madockawando Lodge. Picture probably dates to the mid-1890s.
  • This 1905 photo is the only known picture of the hotel interior. From the collection of Sarah Butler, the manager of the Hotel at the time.
<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 

Detailed History of the Hotel and Annex

The Early Years (1886-1889)



The 'Club House' during construction, 1886.



The Edwin Rogers Era (1890-1899)

1890 Letterhead


The Hotel, 1897.







Hotel People, 1892.



Edwin Rogers


The Albion Gamage Era (1900-1902)


View of Hotel (Center) around 1900. The Gamage store is to the left of the wharf.  

The Sarah Butler Era (1903-1905)


View of Madockawando Lodge from north shore, 1905



View of the Hotel from the Annex, 1905.  Croquet Court (built 1902) in foreground.

Sarah and Mildred Butler, 1905.

The Arthur Race Era (1907-1909)


Madockawando Lodge, 1908.





The Bucknam Era (1910-1913)

The Hotel, around 1912.




The Andrew Rolaw Era (1915-1917)


Clipping from the Greenfield Gazette, Sept 20, 1917.


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