Cottage Home Furniture | History of Cottage Home

The Weare Mansion
Cape Neddick, Maine

This house first came into the possession of the Weare family in 1720. At that time, this small
house was enlarged into an L-shape, adding a long room on the west side. A large pile of stones
that supported the chimney-work of this house is still evident under the floorboards of the
Mountain Road entry of the current house. The great half-round support timbers under the current
dining room may be the oldest documented structure in York and is certainly the oldest in Cape
Neddick. Descendants of the first Joseph Weare lived in this house through the 1760’s.

In the 1760’s, Jeremiah Weare Jr. and Lucy Webber married, moved in to the house and then
rebuilt it into a classic center chimney cape structure. The current dining room with the large
fireplace and brick bake oven served as the typical 18th century kitchen and remained the kitchen
until 1840. The fireplaces were the central focus of all the surrounding rooms and were all fitted
with mantel shelves. The mantels, particularly the one in the current living room, are perfect
examples of 18th century style and craftsmanship. As of 1840, William Weare, a grandson of
Jeremiah Weare Jr., owned the house.

In 1840 Captain Theodore Weare Jr., a prominent merchant, ship owner and another grandson of
Jeremiah Weare Jr., bought the property from William Weare. He then raised the main house by
one story (now 2 ½ stories) and added a new 2 story L- wing and a 2 story barn. All of the additions
were done in the popular Greek Revival architectural style. This house has been frequently
photographed and painted. The proportions of the wide frieze boards and deep roof overhang make
this one of the handsomest antique houses in Cape Neddick.

The interior of the newly expanded house has numerous architectural details including two curved
staircases finished in walnut, large windows with fluted woodwork and the orginal grain painted
trim.

In 1903 Captain Weare’s last surviving heir, his daughter Mary Ann, left the house and estate to
her adopted brother, David Farwell. Farwell operated an orchard and saw mill across the street and
a hardware store at what is now the "Pie In The Sky" bakery. Unmarried and without heirs, David
Farwell died in 1917 and left the house to his housekeeper, sixteen year-old Susie Leer.

Susie Leer later married Percy Hutchins and they raised their family in this house between 1917
and 1960. Percy Hutchins passed away in the 1950’s and Susie Leer Hutchins finally sold the
property to a Mr. Floyd Arcola of Muncy, New York in 1960.

Mr. Arcola owned the house for 32 years but never lived in it or completed any of his planned
renovations. During this period the house declined to a remarkably decrepit condition. As of 1992
the first c. 1900 wiring system was still in use and no central heating system had ever been
installed. Despite the general deterioration, the house retained every original feature and detail
from the 1840’s.

In 1992 Roland Labrie and Paul Mazgelis purchased the the property. Over the next 10 years they
carried out an extensive renovation to preserve the many special details of the 1840 house. For
example, the cellar’s huge brick arch supporting the main chimney remains intact, as well as the
copper laundry tubs, the water cistern, and main fireplace bake oven. All of the door and trim were
restored to their original hand painted grain finish and most of the windows retain their original
glass panes. A new furnace, hot water boiler, roof and master bedroom were added to the building.
Both men operated their respective businesses from the property and Mr. Labrie used the first floor
of the barn as a showroom for his hand painted furniture business, “The Painted Piece”. In 2002
they moved to Weston, Vermont to run "The Judge Wilder Inn", a bed & breakfast. Roland also
continues to operate his painted furniture business there.

In 2002 the property was sold to Judy and Dave Brown, the current owners. In addition to living in
the house, they renovated the barn and opened a home décor business, "Cottage Home", in the late
fall of 2002. A decorative garden section was added to their business in 2004. The Browns also
completed a kitchen renovation, which updated the appliances and workspace, while preserving
the historic integrity of the house.

Their most recent project is the addition of this website and the on-line store to their business. The
Cottage Home website, created by their daughter, Sarah, was launched Summer 2006. The Browns
also purchased the small house across the street from the Weare Mansion and in the spring of
2008, the "Corporate Headquarters" of Cottage Home officially set up office there.