Housing
This section of the BDN aims to help readers understand Maine’s housing crisis, the volatile real estate market and the public policy behind them. Read more Housing coverage here.
A sweeping saltwater farm is for sale in the small Down East town of Lubec for $2.7 million.
The property, called Beach Rose Preserve, sits on 328 mostly wooded acres and boasts 710 feet of ocean frontage along a secluded cove known as “Bailey’s Mistake,” supposedly named for a sea captain whose ship ran aground there. It’s one of a handful of historic, waterfront farms for sale across Maine right now, with other offerings in Jefferson, Friendship and North Haven.
Beach Rose Preserve was established a short drive away from downtown Lubec in 1820 and consists of a renovated farmhouse, post-and-beam pegged barn and two unfinished buildings that could serve as a guesthouse, fitness studio or artists’ workshop once done up, Jamie O’Keefe, the property’s listing agent, suggested.
The main farmhouse has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and was renovated recently by its current owner, Constance Collins. The renovations included a new foundation, roof, windows and flooring, as well as the installation of new heating, electrical and plumbing systems. All the other buildings for sale also have had new foundations and roofs installed.
“The renovation was very tasteful in that it offers modern amenities while incorporating wonderful vintage details, like antique interior doors and a striking Queen Atlantic wood stove that was fully restored and converted to a gas oven with 4-burner cooktop,” O’Keefe, a broker with LandVest Inc., wrote in an email.
Preserving those antique touches — and therefore the historic farm’s legacy — was top of mind for Collins as she made updates. The property owner made every effort to preserve the wooden and stone details original to her 1820 home, she said, including its cathedral ceilings with exposed beams, its wide-beam hardwood floors and antique lighting.
“It is so sweet when neighbors pass by and remark that they grew up seeing the farm and are grateful I did not tear it down, as some suggested,” Collins wrote in an email. “I felt an obligation to the blood, sweat and tears of the original [settlers] of this farm to preserve it.”
Collins’ home, which is being offered turn-key, provides expansive views of the ocean and the property’s private, sandy beach. It is an “unparalleled” place to stargaze from, she said, and is close to plenty of hiking trails and the picturesque West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. There are two private airports about 40 minutes away from the property in Machias and Eastport, and Bangor’s international airport is about 2.5 hours away.
The property is a unique offering that has sat on the market since October because of its remote location, acreage and it being a slow time of year for real estate, O’Keefe said. It could be used as a year-round residence, but the broker thinks it’s more likely to be sold as a vacation home.
Once it sells, Collins said she will miss interacting with all the wildlife around the farm, like the seals who can be spotted popping their heads out of the bay and the otters who populate the property’s pond. Moose, deer, bears and more have also made an appearance on the farm through the years, which is located 15 minutes away from downtown Lubec and the crossing to Canada’s Campobello Island.
“It is truly a slice of heaven,” Collins wrote.
