"Holiday Inn, Highland Lake, Bridgton, Maine A13"

"Holiday Inn, Highland Lake, Bridgton, Maine A13"

"Holiday Inn, Highland Lake, Bridgton, Maine A13" Large Inn. Sign reads Guests, Holiday Inn, Public Dining Room, Park Here, Shore Dinners. Trees, power lines. "One day, two men, wearing suits and carrying brief cases, knocked on the door of the Holiday Inn. They were lawyers representing a hotel named Holiday Inn, and they had come to tell the owner that the name “Holiday Inn” was a trademark registered name and could not be used. The Sparkes would have to find another name for their inn. During the course of the conversation, though, it was discovered that the Holiday Inn of Bridgton had been operating under that name since 1948, which pre-dated the new corporate Holiday Inn which had opened in Memphis, Tenn. on August 1, 1952. Once the lawyers realized their predicament, they offered Chip Sparke $100, and a new sign with the name "Holiday Cottages” if he would stop using the name "Holiday Inn”. The family changed the name to Holiday Cottages, but years later, knowing how successful the Holiday Inn chain had become, B.J. wondered if her family might have made a more lucrative settlement. In December 1986 Holiday Cottages was purchased by Bill and Jean Preis, who renamed it Merryfield Cove, in honor of Oliver J. Merrifield who built the house. " -Information provided by Bill Presis 7/2017