Baxter Summer Home

The Baxter Summer Home is a residential house on Mackworth Island featuring dark red brick walls, green terracotta tile roof, and a fieldstone foundation near Casco Bay. The structure includes room layouts and architectural details typical of early 20th-century summer estates.

James Phinney Baxter, a six-term Portland mayor and businessman, had this summer house built between 1917 and 1918 on Mackworth Island. Since 1943, the property has been operated by the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf.

The main entrance displays sailing motifs in stained glass, reflecting how coastal Maine residents connected their homes to the ocean and maritime traditions.

The property is operated by the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and visiting requires advance contact with the institution. It is best to arrange access ahead of time to understand what may be available to see.

A circular solarium on the north side and an enclosed porch on the south were designed to capture different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This thoughtful layout shows how the original owner planned for comfort across all seasons.

Location: Falmouth

GPS coordinates: 43.68806,-70.23306

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:08