New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Historic Westbrook B&B
Built in 1872, the Captain Stannard House has been owned and operated as an inn or bed and breakfast for most of its 149 years. After Captain Elbert Stannard – the ship’s captain who built it after retiring from a life at sea – moved to Long Island, the home was transformed into the Menunketesuck Inn. Later, it became the St. Charles Inn, then the Olde English Tavern, and, after that, Holly’s Hotel & Seafood Restaurant. It was even an antique shop for a period of time.
In 1931, what’s known as Holly’s Barn was added to the house and used as a community gathering place, workforce housing, and a dormitory. After the home caught fire in 1971, it was reverted back to a private residence, but ultimately, it became the Captain Stannard Bed & Breakfast Country Inn, which it remains. When sellers Jim and Mary Brewster purchased it in 2004, it had been a bed and breakfast for more than 30 years. “Were just carrying on the tradition and want to pass it on as a bed and breakfast,” Jim said.
David Brewster, listing agent for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services and Jim’s brother, said the spacious house is airy and has large open rooms with high ceilings, an oversized office, and generous living space for the owners. David also said it was a joy to show the house as Jim and Mary keep everything tightly organized. “I know that they really, really enjoy doing what they do and it comes out when you talk to them,” he said. The Brewsters spent about five years restoring the house, revealing original ceilings, adding a wraparound porch, putting in a commercial kitchen, redoing the office, and sprucing up the landscaping. They also
Address: 138 South Main St., Westbrook
Price: $995,000
Rooms: 21
Features: This piece of Connecticut history is located in a charming shoreline town. Built by Captain Elbert Stannard in 1872, the Captain Stannard House has been owned and operated as a bed and breakfast for more than 40 years. It was voted “Best Authentic New England Inn/B&B” in Shoreline Times in 2018. There are 10 fully furnished guestrooms, private baths, and sitting areas. The private owner’s residence consists of a large bedroom with a walk-in closet, dining room, living room, a spacious office, and a huge commercial kitchen. Also, on the first floor is a large dining room and common sitting areas with a fireplace and pool table. Outdoor areas include a huge, covered porch overlooking a large, flat backyard for weddings, banquets, parties or games. There is plenty of room for parking on the premises. More details at http://stannardhouse.com.
Schools: Daisy Ingraham School, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook High School
Agent: David Brewster, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, 847-370-2739, davidbrewster@bhhsne.com took the shutters down to show off the original trim around the windows.
In the lobby, the Brewsters keep towels for guests taking a walk to the nearby beach. From there, the great room has a pool table, seating areas, and an ongoing jigsaw puzzle to keep guests occupied. French doors lead to a music room with a baby grand piano. One morning, the Brewsters rose to the sound of music and went to the music room to find a guest there. “He was a concert pianist sitting at the piano playing tunes,” Jim said. “We just sat around the piano listening
for about an hour.” A room called the Captain’s Room has a bar where morning coffee is set out. Eight tables in the dining room comfortably sit 40 people, and the 80-foot porch with ipe floorboards offers a comfortable place for folks to gather.
Upstairs, in the section of the house that was the barn, are six guest rooms
with queen beds and private baths. Connecting the main house and addition is a room called Lydia’s Slipper, which is named for the spirit of the house.
On the main floor, two premiere rooms have private baths. A converted sunroom with a double bed shares a bath with and a room with two twin beds. The owner’s living
space is in the main house and includes dining and living rooms, the large kitchen, and a bedroom. “There’s a lot of personal room, as well as inn space,” Jim said. “That’s one of the things that makes it unique.” The Brewsters have hosted weddings with 100-plus guests, showers, clambakes and crafting weekends,
including for scrapbooking and quilting.
Though contactless check-ins currently limit the Brewsters from greeting guests, Jim said they will miss the personal moments with guests. “Sitting there talking with them is the thing that makes it special and it’s the thing that we will miss the most,” he said.