Rockland Hotel, circa 1950s Poster

Originally built in the 1870s and named the Maine Central Hotel, it became the Narragansett Hotel in the late 1800’s. Mr. Frank Donahue operated the Narragansett Hotel until his death in 1944. It was part of the “hotel circuit” in Maine for musicians to perform and be heard. The hotel boasted electric lights, steam heat, perfect ventilation and reasonable prices. In the 1950’s the hotel was renamed once again to Rockland Hotel, owned by Nathan Berliawsky (brother of artist Louise Nevelson), who also ran The Coffee Pot restaurant in the building as well as the Thorndike Hotel on Main Street. In the 1970’s the property was purchased by Hiram Brown and renamed the Wayfarer. You can see scenes of the Wayfarer’s former restaurant in the movie “In The Bedroom” staring Sissy Spacek and Marisa Tomei. Now the Narragansett Condominiums. The Narragansett was also used as an emergency hospital during the 1918 influenza pandemic.