BAR HARBOR'S HIGHEST HOTEL

BAR HARBOR'S HIGHEST HOTEL

Mount Desert Herald
May 10, 1883

On the central of the three peaks of Green Mountain is situated what will probably be known as the "Summit House.  It is built by the parties who have leased the top of the mountain, and are constructing the Green Mountain Railway.  Those principality interested are Bangor business men.  Of course the scenery and the view from the mountain are "as old as the hills,"  but the path thereto was rugged and steep, and the summit difficult to access, and consequently comparatively few enjoyed it, now we are to have a railroad  up and a comfortable house to rest when we get there.
On the 29th day of March, the first blow was struck on the foundation of the "Summit House,"  and thanks to the untiring energy of the master workmen, Mr. N.J. Bunker, the building will be ready for plastering the latter part of this week.  The dimensions of the main house are forth one by fifty feet and of the ell thirty by twenty six feet.  A Piazza eight feet wide, surrounds the main house.  There are four entrances, two on the north and two on the south side.  The dining hall is on the west end of the main house.  It is a large room thirty by forty one feet, and will probably accommodate about one hundred and twenty guests.  In the Ell are the kitchen, serving room and pantry.  In the east end of the main building are two spacious parlors.  The main staircase heads from the dining hall to the second story and there are also back stairs from the kitchen.  The height of the dining room ceiling is ten feet.  On the second floor of the main house are ten commodious sleeping rooms, and in the ell are six other large rooms.  On either end of the hall on this floor are two large windows.  In the attic of the main house are six fine rooms, the attic of the ell being used for storage.  Each of these rooms contains two windows, the two rooms on the south west and north west corners being especially noticeable for the splendid view which they command from the corner windows.  Stairs from this floor lead to the roof through a sliding scuttle.
The roof forms a flat platform, nineteen by twenty eight feet, and is railed in.  In the center of this is the observatory, the floor of which, raised twenty inches above the platform, is ten feet square.  This observatory will be built of glass and will contain a large and powerful telescope.  The top tapers off in a spire to a height of twenty three feet above the roof.  To attempt to describe the view from the top of the Summit House, would be useless.  Those who have been on the top of Green Mountain on a clear day  may imagine what the view would be at a further elevation of forty feet, and with the aid of a powerful telescope.  The sunrise from the mountain is a splendid sight, and now every opportunity if afforded to stay over night in order to enjoy this.  The courteous and skillful master workmen, Mr. Bunker, is from Brewer, and to his kindness are we indebted for the particulars of the building.  Mr. Bunker says that next to the view from the summit on a clear day, the finest he knows is to see the sunrise through a thick fog and shine down on the waves of vapor which are rolling beneath.