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Squire Tarbox Inn

The Squire Tarbox Inn is at once an iconic historic homestead and, what a former owner called, “a country inn at the end of a road to nowhere.” The Inn has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.

 

Anchoring the line of buildings that make up the Tarbox Inn is the federal style homestead built by Samuel Tarbox in about 1825. An expansion soon after at the back of the house served as the kitchen until 1956. The oldest part of the house is the 1763 ell which was originally situated on a hill to the north of the property. This building was likely built by the original property owner Gabriel Stone. The 18th century ell retains its original beams and fireplace and connects the main homestead with the carriage house. It has served as the dining room since 1956.

 

Samuel Tarbox purchased land on Westport in 1806 when he was a joiner and a carpenter. His business interests evolved and included farming, land trading, fishing stations, fishing schooners, and a sawmill. As a familyman, he and his wife raised 12 children on the family homestead. Due to his subsequent wealth and distinguished civic service, he became known as the Squire.

 

The Squire’s grandson Stephen Webber came to Westport from Bowdoinham in the mid-1800s and operated the Tarbox family farm. Stephen’s son, Eugene P. Webber, was the next to acquire the property. He and his wife, Margaret, and daughter Maud, lived on the farm in the summer and in Portland in the winter. In 1945, Maud Webber became the last Tarbox descendant to live at the family farm.

 

In 1956, Eleanor Harriman Siebert bought the Webber Farm from Maud giving her a life tenancy. After renovations, Eleanor Siebert opened the “Summer Kitchen”, a tea room and dining establishment. Also owned by Eleanor’s son and daughter-in-law in the 1960s, the inn has since seen a number of owners and renovations. It has operated as a bakery, a farm, a dairy, an award-winning restaurant, an event venue, and to this day, continues to operate as an inn.

Squire Tarbox Inn