Go back

    Riverside Inn and Livery Stable, Dennysville, Maine

    Photograph
    This winter view is looking up Water Street toward Store Hill. The Riverside Inn is the first building on the right. Across the road, backing on to the Dennys River are John Allan's livery stable and the end of Lyman K. Gardner's Blacksmith shop. Above them, on the hill are Vose's Store and behind that is visible the gable end of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) hall. Photo courtesy of The Tides Institute, Eastport, Maine.

    John Allan, son of Mark, built a small house on Water Street on the slope of Store Hill to which, in 1834, he added a two-story front section. He and his wife, Lydia (Kilby) operated an inn there from 1835 until May 11, 1839, enjoying a large patronage, mainly due to land speculators occurring at that time. Prior to 1887 the house formerly occupied by Johanna and Lydia Allan was again opened to the public, this time as a first class boarding house kept by Mrs. Emma (Eldridge) Allan, wife of John K. Allan. When the character and excellent qualities of the house became known, her patrons urged the proprietor to operate on a larger scale. Acceding to their wishes, she converted her home into "Riverside Inn" in 1887, Her comfortable accommodations and excellent cuisine gained a fine reputation. In addition to weary, hungry travelers and sportsman, her patrons included various organizations and family groups from surrounding towns, as well as local folks who indulged in delicious meals for special occasions. In 1888, from May 24 to December 31, guests at Riverside Inn represented nine states, three Canadian provinces, and Washington D.C. Those whose residence was Maine came from thirty towns, twenty-three of which were in Washington County, including villages nearby, such as Charlotte, Cooper, Edmunds, Marion, Pembroke, Trescott and Whiting. At that time, before the advent of either the railroad or the automobile, most patrons also had horses put up at the livery stable. From 1937 until 1942 R. Forrest Higgins, grandson of Susan Comber, and his wife, Mary (Scott) operated the hotel but under a different name, "The Original Allan House." Although the Inn had not been continuously open to the public, the year of its final closing, 1942, was over a hundred years after its initial opening, 1835. During those years people from a multitude of places and from many walks of life enjoyed comfortable accommodations and excellent food. Among the patrons of interest were Dr. William Powers, Principal of Washington State Normal School, Machias, Mrs. Jacob Riis, wife of the famed journalist and humanitarian; William Tudor Gardner, Governor of Maine; William R. Pattangal, Attorney and Chief Justice, Augusta; and Grover Cleveland, President of the United States. In 1962, Mary Higgins, widow of Forrest, sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Noyes, who raised their family there.

    Dennys River Historic PhotographsHallowell Collection at the Tides InstitutePhotos for Map

    Store Hill c. 1890
    Riverside Inn and Dennys River Hotel, c. 1960
    Riverside Inn/ Allan's Hotel

    Riverside Inn and Livery Stable, Dennysville, Maine; John Allan's Livery stable is poised on the river bank across from the the Riverside Inn in this photograph from the early 1890's. John Allan's store is beside the Inn, while Peter E. Vose's Store and T.W. Allan's stores are visible at the top of Store Hill.
    The Riverside Hotel, Dennysville, Maine; The Riverside Inn, was also called the Riverside Hotel and John Allan's Hotel. Riverside Inn in 2022; Since closing to the public in 1942 the Riverside Inn became home to a number of local families, eventually falling into serious disrepair.