From 1833 to 1836 John, James, and Luther Hoar II purchased various properties from Squire James Rangeley to create a single large block. In 1899 it was acquired by Nathan Ellis who purchased it from the heirs of Luther (who changed his name from Hoar) Nile. It was named Lake View Farm, but it is usually referred to in the recent past as the Ellis Farm.
From 1899 until 1919 Nathan Ellis operated Lakeview as a major sheep farm. The Big House, which was originally a barn, became finished in 1903. Nate had eight sons and one daughter. His #7 son, Lynwood purchased the Farm from the estate about 1917. Lynwood and Marion (Oakes) had 6 sons and 6 daughters. He continued the farm as a sheep farm and in the late 1920’s he had fourteen single room tourist cottages built near the lake for the tourist trade. He also established a central dining room in the Big House. In the early 1940’s Lynwood purchased four other competing dairy units in the area and went into the dairy business on a large scale, supplying Rangeley, Stratton, Eustis and Kingfield with dairy products.
From 1961 to 1973, Lynwood raised 30 beef cattle as a retirement enterprise. Lynwood and Marion sold their first house lot on the high hill for $400 per acre. Paul (son #5) and Barbara bought the Farm in 1973, totally rebuilt both the “little” and the “Big House”, creating an attractive Inn. In 1986, the Inn was sold and it was managed as The Farmhouse Inn for two more years. It was sold again in 1988.
In June of 2007, the Inn was sold once more to the current owners, Michael & Tinamarie who have opened a full service restaurant and have been doing major renovations. They have been visitors to the Rangeley region for many years and now their dream of living here and owning the historic Farmhouse Inn have come true. Click on the link below for recent photos of the Farmhouse Inn: Summer 2008
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