Built by John Aspinwall in 1917, this picturesque three-season retreat on Bremen Long Island is one of the most beautiful island properties in the Midcoast region. Nestled on 95 acres with spectacular views from all sides of the peninsula, Aspinwall is a sailor’s dream with two new moorings, a deep water dock, and a granite pier. “It really is one of the most idyllic summer retreats on the coast of Maine,” says Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty agent Linda Painter, who is representing the sellers alongside agent Tom Field. “The main house, the guest house, the cottages, and the entire setting have a feeling of refinement and the casual luxury of a bygone era.”
Only accessible by boat, Aspinwall is ideal for people seeking the Maine lifestyle and privacy. “From Broad Cove Marina in Bremen, where the seller has a boat slip, it is about a mile and a half boat ride, or roughly 10 minutes,” says agent Linda Painter. “As you approach Aspinwall from the water, you pass the beautiful evergreen islands of Muscongus Bay. Even though it’s easily accessible from the mainland, there is an instant sense of remoteness and tranquility.”
The property includes a historic 4-bedroom main house, a large barn added in 2007 with a year-round guest apartment, and two cozy cottages. Take a look around the island and inside the home and cottages below.
Explore the Island
Bremen Long Island, off the coast of the Bristol peninsula in Muscongus Bay, is roughly a mile wide and 2.5 miles long, dotted with pristine woodlands and rocky coves. There are only about 25 other seasonal residences on the island, which was first settled in the mid-1800s and still has historic carriage trails winding throughout the forests and coves.
“Aspinwall is perfect for those who want solitude but convenient access to mainland amenities,” says Linda Painter. “There is plenty of room for entertaining, and access to some of the most beautiful sailing waters in the world. The property has two moorings and 9 feet of water at low tide. Even the kayaking is spectacular.”
Though the property is a step back in time and “off the grid,” it has been updated with modern amenities. An artesian well provides ample water supply. All electricity is generated internally through solar power and a generator system, and a satellite provides television and internet service.
Main House
John Aspinwall was a wealthy New York City businessman whose merchant family was partially responsible for kickstarting the age of clipper ship construction in Midcoast Maine. His influential uncle William Henry Aspinwall was the founder of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and the Panama Railroad. The work The Aspinwall Empire by Colonel Duncan Somerville chronicles the family’s sprawling global maritime and merchant empire.
John Aspinwall built the historic main house on Bremen Long Island as a summer retreat in 1917. According to a story in Coastal Home Magazine on the property, the Aspinwall family spared no expense in the construction of their retreat: “This included building a granite dock to accommodate his barge, which brought provisions from the mainland, including the family cow that was sent from Newburgh.”
After the patriarch’s death, the house was turned into a lodge for summer tourists. Then in 1958, it was turned into a camp rental. The next owners, who purchased the property in 1997, added modern amenities like electricity and restored the home to its former grandeur. The current sellers are the fourth owners of the historic estate.
It has been tastefully renovated and features four bedrooms, a stunning living room with an oak-truss cathedral ceiling, and a 12-foot wide stone fireplace. A glassed-in sun porch has commanding water views and decks overlooking the private beach. A well-equipped country kitchen with a butler’s pantry makes the home perfect for entertaining family and friends. The primary bedroom has a double-sided fireplace, a lovely sitting room, and a large en-suite bath with a scenic tub overlooking the ocean.
“Game Room” Cottage
Two cottages are tucked in the evergreens close to the shore, and one has been furnished as a delightful game room. Originally the property’s ice house, it can easily be converted into an additional sleeping cottage or any other imaginative space.
“Sleeping” Cottage
The other cottage is furnished for guest overflow, with two beds, a cozy wood-burning fireplace, and a scenic front porch overlooking the water.
Barn & Apartment
The property also features a beautiful barn with a workshop and a one-bedroom year-round apartment above. We love the water views and the cozy touches like the footed tub in the bathroom and spacious kitchen counter for enjoying year-round living on the peaceful island.
Aspinwall is offered at $3,200,000 with all furnishings and fully equipped. Contact Linda Painter and Tom Field for more information.
