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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  • Charles Butler Jr. in front of the Hotel, circa 1905. Photo from the collection of Sarah Butler, the manager of the Hotel at the time.
  • Hotel, around 1905. The croquet court was constructed in 1902. Note the croquet mallets next to the bench and the wooden walkway leading to the Annex.
  • Madockawando Lodge 1906. There is new 20-room addition on the south end, and the outbuildings in back are gone. The fir tree in front is now over 1 story tall.
  • The Hotel in 1908, during the Arthur L. Race era (1907-1910). The upper story has been painted and there is a new entrance on rear of the building.
  • View of Cove from top floor of hotel. (Alpha col)
  • Must be a later photo as it's been painted a different color. (Alpha col)
  • Last known photo of the Hotel, perhaps 1915 or so. The fir tree in front of the steps is now almost 2 stories tall, and the vegetation has become overgrown.
  • Clipping from the Greenfield Gazette and Courier, September 15th 1917. The hotel burned on September 6th of that year.
  • Uncle of founding investor George Rogers, Edwin Rogers managed the Hotel from 1890-1899. He introduced the island to his niece, Ada Bingham, the matriarch of the Bingham/Morris/Signell clan.
  • The Hotel cooks (Alpha col)
<< 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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