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The Elms Inn has been demolished as I discovered on a recent GOOGLE STREET VIEW visit.

The Elms Inn in the Village of Harrison Maine was located up the hill on Route 35, Naples Road, owned in the 1950's by Louis and Lona Underberger. They bought the property from Arthur Trotter. For many years they operated it year round as an inn and public restaurant. My family vacationed there. My Mother loved auctions. My Father was a fisherman. Me, I had no choice, but to enjoy every moment I spent there since we lived in the city.

The main building, the Inn had several public rooms as well as the dining area. Across the road, the Underbergers acquired a number of homes that became part of it. Along the driveway leading down to Long Lake there was a big red barn that served as the recreation building. There was a jukebox, pool table, pinball machine, 5 cents Coca Cola machine. Outside there was a shuffleboard court.

There were several cottages of various designs, including one with a living room, fireplace and bathroom. No television sets in any of them. Outside on the grassy hill there were Adirondack chairs to sit on.

Steps led down to the lakefront where there were: rowboats; a dock with a ladder; an enclosed crib for younger swimmers; a wooden deck next to an old boat house, where the local daredevil youngsters dove off; a raft with a large log attached to it. The water was spring fed and cold!

The Underberger's business, the Sioux Moccasin Company was located on the premises. They utilized what had been the recreation building as the factory. There was a shop where one could purchase their hand made products.

Eventually they converted the Inn into their residence, and utilized several adjacent homes as well as the cottages to accommodate vacationers who had previously stayed at the inn.

The public restaurant was closed at that time and a home across Route 35 was utilized as the dining area. The cook was Lona Underberger's mother.

One memorable summer they had a Sportman's show. The hill leading to Long Lake was the seating area for the entertainment. They constructed a deck to serve as the stage.

Only forty miles from Portland, Harrison had not yet a bedroom community for Portland, Maine.

There was a public beach on Long Lake in the village, and within walking distance was another at one end of Crystal Lake. There was a variety store which during the summer was the hangout for the many many camp counselors.

Nearby in the woods is the Deertrees Theatre.

Harrison is close to Bridgton, Norway and Lewiston.

Original upload log

• 2008-04-12 23:34 Hugh Manatee 747×469× (140893 bytes) The Elms Inn, Harrison, ME; from a 1910 postcard published by the Folsom Press, Naples, Maine. In 1860, Almon Kneeland bought the Francis Blake property and converted it into The Elm House, an inn which would later be called The Elms.