History of the Primrose Inn
The Primrose Inn was built in 1878 by Col. William F. Holland, a banker from Savannah, Georgia. Col. Holland chose the prestigious address on Mt. Desert Street to be his summer residence.
The design of the house is what is commonly known as "Stick Style" Victorian. This architectural style reached its height of popularity around the country in the late 1870s and early 1880's.
In the same year that the Primrose was built, St. Saviours Episcopal Church finished the construction of its new sanctuary a few blocks away on Mt. Desert Street. Around 1882 Col. Holland sold the Primrose to Christopher Starr Leffingwell, who had become the first Rector (Pastor) for St. Saviours Church.
Having survived the "Great Fire of 1947" thanks to a fortuitous change in the winds, the Primrose Inn remains one of the last grand residences of the 19th Century in Bar Harbor.
The innkeepers, Catherine and Jeff Shaw, purchased the Primrose Inn during the autumn of 2006 after moving to Bar Harbor from Southern California. Catherine and Jeff had the dream of owning a B&B since they first stayed in them on inn-to-inn bike tours with Bike Vermont back in the 1980’s.
While in California, Jeff (a CPA and a hospitality industry veteran) and Catherine (a Nurse-Midwife with a passion for cooking and crafts) and their children were members of Saddleback Valley Community Church whose Senior Pastor is Rick Warren, the author of the best-selling book Purpose Driven Life.
Catherine and Jeff see their ownership of Primrose Inn as “Purpose-Driven” also – to serve the thousands of guests from all over the world that come thru the Primrose Inn’s front door each year and to assist their guests in their quest to relax and recharge.
As you pass thru the front door of the Primrose Inn you will see engraved on a bronze plaque the following verse that continues to keep Catherine and Jeff focused on this purpose:
“Be not forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels unawares.” --Hebrews 13:2