Rodick Hotel

Rodick Hotel

The Rodick Hotel in Bar Harbor after expansion. The original hotel was built in 1866 It reached its final architectural form in 1881-1882, but closed in 1902. It was torn down in 1906. By 1870, Bar Harbor boasted over a dozen hotels; some required that reservations be done two years in advance. In 1881, David Rodick expanded Rodick House from 275 to 400 rooms making it the largest hotel in North America with a dining room serving 1000 guests, and a 500-foot x 25-foot wide porch running along the front and one side of the hotel. The hotel's main attractions were the lobby (Fish Pond) and the porch where young ladies were said to go "fishing" for husbands. Rodick House - West side of Main Street 1866: built 1874: was expanded 1881 - July 14: proprietors - D. Rodick and sons; clerk - E. W. Taft; "Mr. E. W. Taft, the clerk at the Rodick House, had looked after the comfort of the many guests of that hotel for six seasons. The Rodick House quickly filled up with all-summer guests. They came early in the season, stayed late in the fall, and were sure to come again the next year. There was no more homelike and comfortable hotel at Bar Harbor." (Mount Desert Herald, 14 July 1881, page 3) 1881-1882: was expanded from 275 to 400 rooms 1886 - July 6: "Largest hotel in Maine"; proprietors - D. Rodick & sons; Advertisement in The Daily Herald: THE RODICK Main Street, Bar Harbor D. RODICK & SONS, proprietors Largest hotel in Maine. Four hundred sleeping rooms belonging to the hotel. Cottages connected. Complete drainage and water supply. Highest elevation; beautiful and extensive views. Largest lawn and grounds of any hotel at Bar Harbor. Lighted with gas and has all the Modern Improvements. Our Halls, Parlors, Offices and Dining Hall afford accommodations for One Thousand persons. Prices according to size and location of rooms. Liberal terms by the season. 1906 - The hotel's contents were auctioned and the hotel was torn down