Nathaniel Hawthorne's Inspiration Chair

Complete with a plaque to commemorate it's popularity, the rock is located to the left of the water's edge of the property and is easily accessible if you'd like try it out for yourself. Here's a little bit of history that surrounds it...

Hawthorne (1804-1864) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. When he was 9 years old his father died and the family came to live in Casco, Maine in a house owned by his uncle. The house still stands just a short distance from the motel. His back yard was the east shore of Sebago Lake and his front yard was the Inlet and Thomas Pond. He explored every inch and discovered the large chair shaped boulder. Hawthorne's uncle sent him to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine where he met a Portland boy; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. They became lifelong friends. Years later, Longfellow on a stage coach trip from Portland to New Hampshire, stopped to visit his friend's inspiration chair, sat and took in the calm and peaceful setting. This story has been passed down through local generations and when the new owner heard of the legend, he exposed the chair shaped rock and made his guests aware of its existence.

The chair sat in a level position since it was delivered by the last ice age, some 10 thousand years ago. In the last few years, ever since the chair has been made public knowledge, it has mysteriously started to settle. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a very private man. Some have suggested that his spirit may be moving the chair.