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NEWS RELEASES
For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Rick Litchfield, Innkeeper 207-967-3141, innkeeper@captainlord.com
The Inn's History
The Mansion's Beginning
The Captain Lord Mansion was built during the War of 1812 as an elegant private residence, by wealthy shipbuilder Nathaniel Lord. Commerce along the New England coast had been disrupted by a British blockade and Nathaniel Lord put his idle shipwrights to work building him the most impressive house in the area. Nathaniel chose famous architect Thomas Eaton to design his house and it rivals the finest Federal Period homes built in New England. The Captain Lord Mansion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been operated as a Bed & Breakfast Inn for 25 years.The Innkeeper's Background
Bev Davis and husband Rick Litchfield are refugees from the corporate world of advertising. Bev, was an Advertising Manager for McDonald's Corporation before joining the Advertising Department, she was a Real Estate Representative for McDonald's where she acquired many locations that became top volume producers for the company. Rick has a degree in accounting and worked in finance, sales and advertising before becoming an Innkeeper. His last job before innkeeping was as Account Supervisor with an advertising agency in Schenectady, NY.The Mansion Meets its New Caretakers
Being in the corporate world meant frequent job changes and moves for Rick & Bev. They knew they wanted a small business they could own and operate together. They spent a year looking at small restaurants. Many of which were for sale because the couples were getting divorced. Rick & Bev began to cast their focus in a different direction.St. Patrick's Day 1978, was bright and sunny; giving promise of the spring to come. Never having been to Kennebunkport before, Bev & Rick were unprepared for the charm, character and beauty of the little village. As they passed over the drawbridge into Dock Square, a large solitary seagull, sitting on the bridge railing, seemed to welcome them to town. Wispy clouds swirled in the topaz sky. Arriving at Green Street they caught their first sight of the magnificent structure they soon would come to call home. They gasped and instantly knew they had to have this incredible building.
Although it was being used primarily as a home for senior ladies ranging in age from early 80's to mid 90's, it was properly licensed for the rental of 16 rooms and serving meals to guests. The business was called "The Captain Lord Mansion" and was listed in Norman Simpson's "Country Inns and Back Roads".
In the parking lot of the Mansion, Bev & Rick stood arm in arm by the 5,000 square foot carriage house looking up at the 3-story Federal home with its octagonal cupola and dreamed of owning this fantastic old property. They held each other closely and agreed that they would make every effort to acquire this business. At that time, reality consisted entirely of their goal to own a wonderful, antique-filled, small, intimate bed and breakfast inn.
June 15th 1978, Bev & Rick closed the purchase that indebted them to more money than had been paid for any property in the whole town of Kennebunkport at that time. At the end of the proceedings, Rick leaned close to Bev to inquire about the health of their checkbook and finances; it consisted of $15.00 in the checking account plus about $300 in cash with which Bev intended to buy food for the week.
Bev & Rick stood arm in arm again that afternoon in the parking lot of the Inn gazing up at this incredible building which they were now proud and terrified owners. Five of the seven senior ladies stayed on as residents for two years as they personally undertook the sizable task of renovating the 20,000 square foot building and making it a first class country inn.
Over the past 25 years they have loving restored, refurbished and enhanced every corner of every room in the Mansion.
"It's many little extras that make Captain Lord
Mansion an extraordinary inn."
- Norman Simpson (Country Inns and Back Roads)
Mansion an extraordinary inn."
- Norman Simpson (Country Inns and Back Roads)
