Deer isle, Maine
The Pickering House is an old sea captain's house with over 3000 sq feet of relaxing Down East charm. This property offers ample space, inside and out, perfect for larger families and group gatherings of up to 10. The house itself is situated on a gentle sloping hill across the street from Northwest Harbor and is just a three minute walk from the historic village of Deer Isle. Originally built by Thomas Pickering in 1854 this farmhouse has wonderful elements from the past and is sure to excite history buffs. Most locals you'll meet will know The Pickering House as 'ole Dr. Kopfmann's house - the island's doctor for over 40 years. He charged $2 for office visits at the house, $3 for house calls and was famous for handing out sugar pills (which miracously cured most ailments.)
The house, a classic Georgian farmhouse, has been recently renovated but retains traditional island charm: Beautiful hardwood floors, original tin ceilings, an attached barn, exposed ceiling beams that were once ship masts, and an old ship's beam which forms the curvature of the library walls.
The big back yard has multiple flower and vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Please help yourself to whatever is in season - rhubarb, asparagus, peas, lettuces/kales, tomatoes, apples or pears - just be sure to secure the gate of the salad garden when you are done picking or the deer will eat everything overnight. ***There is also a deeded walking path which leads back to Lily Pond - a great swimming hole where the water is warm enough to swim and play in for hours. Lily Pond is almost a mile in length and is super clean as no motorized vehicles are allowed in its waters. A trip back to the pond is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day! This is really is a don't miss feature and the favorite of many returning guests. And, if you're a fisherman, bring your rod and reel. They stock brown trout here!
A great plus for this property is it's location: across the street from the harbor, walking distance to shops, galleries, coffee shops, the Pilgrim Inn and just 1 mile to The Island Country Club (a public golf course) and Deer Isle Yacht Club. There are a number of places to walk along the shore (including the Little Deer and Sunshine Causeways -which are also great places to go clamming) and Sand Beach & Reach Beach are the best island beaches if you are brave enough for a quick dip in the freezing cold Maine Coast Atlantic Ocean. I also recommend Barred Island Preserve which at low tide the sandbar appears and you can walk across it and explore the newly connected island.
I also own a neighboring property, Spofford Hill House, featuring an additional 6 bedrooms (with a 1st fl Master) and 4.5 baths, that can be rented for large family reunions and groups starting Summer 2021. Combined the properties can accommodate up to 23 guests.
The House:
The first floor of the home has a Living Room with a fireplace and 46' television w/a Roku player ( Netflix & HuluPlus) which opens to the gourmet country Kitchen. The Kitchen features a 4 oven AGA cooker (shut off in summer months), a professional stainless range, a Sub Zero refrigerator, and a huge kitchen island. Off the kitchen is a butler's pantry, a small laundry area with a Fisher & Paykel washer & dryer, and a 1/2 bathroom. The separate Dining Room is just steps away and has comfortable seating for 9-10. The Library also has plenty of seating for all, a 46” flat screen tv w/cable tv, a game table for nights of Bridge, Scrabble or Poker and a desk and wet bar area. Across the hall from the Library is the Parlor - the most elegant room in this farmhouse with tall windows peering towards the ocean, original tin ceiling, a crystal chandelier, a baby grand piano (tuned last in July 2020) and a couch that coverts into bed for overflow or unexpected guests.
The second floor has four bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms and a 1/2 bathroom. The first bedroom has a King size bed with limited views of the harbor. The second bedroom has two Queen beds and also has limited (varying substantially with the seasons) views of the harbor. This bedroom includes an en suite full bathroom. There are curtains that can be drawn between the beds for more limited privacy. The third bedroom is quite small and has a Twin bed but features its own en suite 1/2 bathroom. The 4th bedroom, which I generally claim as the Master Bedroom, is located at the back of the house down a private hallway with a King size bed, a 42' tv w/cable and Roku and an en suite full bathroom. This room overlooks the back yard and has windows on 3 walls which make for a wonderful cross breeze.
If you haven't been to Deer Isle before it is truly a throwback to the way Maine was 50 years ago! Deer Isle is connected to the Blue Hill peninsula by a small suspension bridge and a beautiful causeway so there is no need to worry about ferrying your car over. Be sure to bring your camera! Every time you turn a corner you'll see sights more beautiful than the last.
Your days will be filled exploring Deer Isle (and nearby areas such as Castine, Blue Hill, Bar Harbor) and your nights on the front porch enjoying the breeze that comes up from the harbor or you can walk down to the Library and see a spectacular sunset. Deer Isle is one of the biggest lobstering ports in the USA. You can buy lobster directly off the dock in Stonington (a quick 6 mile drive at the Southern tip if the island) as the boats come in or at the Co-op. Summer 2013 I paid about $3.75/lb. Summer 2017 I paid $5.25/lb. Summer 2019 I paid $6.50/lb. Summer 2020 $5.50 for soft shell. I hear Lobster prices will be much higher Summer 2022
The house is for rent on a weekly basis (Saturday to Saturday) in July and August. I will also consider 3 day weekend ($300/night) or weekly rentals for September and October. Contact me below or visit DownEastMaineRentals if you have other questions.
Dogs are allowed with prior approval and a non - refundable pet deposit of $150 (Hey, that's cheaper than leaving Fido at the kennel and tons more fun!) I am a dog owner and lover myself and I want you to have the best vacation possible! If you are a return vacationer with the same dog this deposit drops to $25. Because of allergy concerns, please note that dogs are the only pets allowed at The Pickering House.
Thank you for considering a vacation at The Pickering House. If you have any questions or would like additional pictures please let me know.
What a wonderful, cozy and interesting place to enjoy some much-needed time away with our large combined family! The Pickering House is absolutely lovely, with lots of room for everyone. The large front porch became a nightly gathering area for our eight older kids, and Lily Pond was a daily treat for everyone. The home is older and as such there are a few quirky things (older, island plumbing and intermittent power outages), but overall we couldn't have asked for a more perfect place. Many of the businesses in the local village were not open due to Covid, however there was hardly a dull moment. Bar Harbor is about an hour away and we took a few day trips, as well as explored some of the surrounding villages. We enjoyed discovering the Yellow Birch Farm, where you can find great produce as well as amazing art. Overall, a wonderful experience and highly recommend.
A lovely old home with lots of space. We were only 3 so felt a little silly in a house this size. It would easily fit 8 to 10 comfortably. Lots of sitting space, comfortable bedrooms, lovely trail to a lake. Easy drives to other hiking and scenic spots. Communicating with Annie was very pleasant and easy. The directions about getting into the house and the rules and use of the home were well described. We had a great time and would happily use this home again if we were back in the area.
We enjoyed a weeklong vacation with another family. The house is lovely and spacious and the island had plenty to keep us busy. It was really nice to be able to walk to the pond for swimming and fishing as well as to the village for coffee and the night market.
Amazing property! Deer Isle is beautiful and relaxing. This house has every charming detail you would want.
Huge house accommodated the family very nicely! We loved the many outdoor opportunities on deer isle and the nearby mainland. The dining room, kitchen and living room made great gathering spaces at the start and end of the day for meals. Owner was very responsive to questions before we arrived. The only negative was the busy road the house is located on and the early morning traffic.
A very lovely spot a 5 minute walk from Deer Isle Village ... Annie was available for any questions (although the information given before our visit and the booklet provided upon arrival was wonderful.) This home is lovely and fun at the same time... Annie has collected interesting things from her travels, which provides warmth and interest in every room. We were there with our son and his family. Our 4 yr old grandson loved the yard and Janet (our point person while there) had left a watering can out for him to help with caring for the plants outside... very sweet! We have a golden doodle who stayed with our other son who lives 5 minutes away, so we didn't have her with us, but Annie will allow you to bring a dog with prior clearance. Because we were gone most days, we chose to leave her with her cousin dogs, but it was an option. This is a family friendly house, but one that deserves care, as would your own! Check it out and I know you won't be disappointed... it is a gem! The Anderson Family
Great location on Deer Isle. Walked to the coffee shop everyday after a morning jog. Short drive into Stonington to enjoy a beer and watch the boats. We rode bikes, went hiking and kayaking. Only time we left the island was to go hiking on Blue Hill Mountain. It was a beautiful hike and the view at the summit was well worth the work. I wish I had two weeks so we could venture out and visit some nearby places. Literally around every corner there is breathtaking beauty. The island is quiet and serene and not filled with people. If you are looking for peace and the comforts of home (the house has EVERYTHING you need) this is where you want to be. Deer Isle and the Pickering House will hold a special place in our hearts.
Annie was very attentive and offered many suggestions for us as we made our way around the Deer Isle area. Every morning we had our coffee on the front porch! So relaxing! Thanks Annie!
What a wonderful week we had. The home is a wonderful blend of old and new. This lovely home is over 160 years old . The appliances are all upscale and the pots and pans were heavy. Preparing lobster was no problem and the owner, Annie, whom we grew to love because she was so helpful, had everything we needed. The location worked for us and we did sit out each morning on the porch drinking coffee before we enjoyed the other areas of Maine. The house worked for the 10 of us because the house is large enough that we were not on top of each other. The boys enjoyed the game table in the long front room. They never turned on the large TV at the other end of the room. Staying at this fun house made our stay outstanding. All 10 of us have wonderful memories of a great week. Thanks to Annie for sharing her wonderful home.
My family thoroughly enjoyed our week on Deer Isle while staying at the Pickering House. The house is very historic, filled with antiques and interesting objects, was clean and comfortable, and has a large, well equipped kitchen that was perfect for preparing meals. We enjoyed exploring Deer Isle, both on land and with kayaks, eating local produce, cheeses and of course, lobster! Annie provided accurate and thorough information about the house and the island and was very prompt in getting back to us when we had a question. We would certainly recommend the Pickering to friends and relatives.
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