The Wedding Cake House: A Tale Of Mystery And Decay

The Wedding Cake House, also known as the George W. Bourne House, is a historic house in Kennebunk, Maine. Built in 1825 by shipbuilder George Washington Bourne, the house is known for its intricate Gothic Revival architecture and romantic tales. The house has been passed down through generations of the Bourne family, and has also been used as an inn and an art gallery. Now, it is owned by Bourne's niece and nephew, who are carefully restoring it.

The house was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George Washington Bourne

The Wedding Cake House, formally known as the George W. Bourne House, was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George Washington Bourne. Bourne was a fourth-generation shipbuilder on the Kennebunk River, and his family home was located behind the Wedding Cake House. The area was known as Kennebunk Landing, and large sailing ships were built there from October to April. Once the ice melted in April, the ships were floated down the river and out to sea.

George Washington Bourne was a prominent shipbuilder and businessman, and the house was built by his father as a wedding gift for him and his bride, Jane. The house was a federal brick house, and 26 years later, in 1852, Bourne added the "icing" that gave the house its name. Inspired by the Cathedral in Milan, Bourne, along with an apprentice and other carpenters, rebuilt the barn and new carriage house with columns, spires, and intricate Gothic trim. Over several years, these embellishments were added to the main house as well.

The house is located on the Kennebunk River in the heart of Historic Kennebunk Landing Shipyards. The architecture is a combination of shipbuilding origins, colonial influences, and Victorian refinement. The house has eight bedrooms and offers 6,263 square feet of living space. It features a circular staircase with a hand-painted mural, a formal parlour with an antique Chickering piano, restored hardwood floors, custom millwork, built-in bookcases, and seven fireplaces. The property also includes a carriage house and a barn with a two-bedroom apartment.

The 'icing' was added 26 years later, inspired by the Cathedral in Milan

The Wedding Cake House, formally known as the George W. Bourne House, is a historic house located at 104 Summer Street in Kennebunk, Maine. The house was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George Washington Bourne as a wedding gift for his son, George W. Bourne, and his bride, Jane. The house's famous "icing" was added 26 years later, in 1852, after a fire destroyed the barn.

George W. Bourne was a fourth-generation shipbuilder on the Kennebunk River, and the area surrounding the house was known as Kennebunk Landing, where large sailing ships were built from October to April. When the ice melted in April, the ships were floated down the river and out to sea. Bourne's father built the original brick house, and Bourne himself rebuilt the barn and carriage house after the fire, adding the intricate Gothic trim, columns, and spires that the house is known for today.

Bourne was inspired by the Cathedral in Milan, which he had seen on a European tour, and he set about recreating its Gothic beauty in his own home. With the help of an apprentice and carpenters from the closed shipyard, he crafted five buttresses with pinnacles and added them to the new structures. He then tied the new structures to the existing house by adding six more buttresses with pinnacles and intricate woodwork. Bourne spent the rest of his life adding embellishments to the house, and his skill and vision created a legendary example of Gothic Revival architecture.

The house's "icing" refers to its ornate white trim against a yellow background, resembling the layers of a wedding cake. The house has become a beloved landmark and is considered the most photographed house in Maine.

The house was passed down through the Bourne family for generations

The Wedding Cake House, formally known as the George W. Bourne House, was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George Washington Bourne as a wedding gift for his son, George W. Bourne, and his bride, Jane. The house was passed down through the Bourne family for generations.

George W. Bourne was a fourth-generation shipbuilder on the Kennebunk River, where the house is located. The area was known as Kennebunk Landing, and large sailing ships were built there from October to April. When the ice melted in April, the ships were floated down the river and out to sea, carrying raw materials.

George W. Bourne was a prominent shipbuilder and businessman who grew up in the house next door, now the Waldo Emerson Inn. In 1852, 26 years after the house was built, a fire destroyed the barn. Bourne, inspired by the Cathedral in Milan, rebuilt the barn and a new carriage house with the help of an apprentice and carpenters from the closed shipyard. Over the next few years, he added columns, spires, and intricate Gothic trim to the new structures and eventually added them to the main house as well.

The house remained in the Bourne family for generations, even being used as an inn for a short time, run by Bourne's great-great-grandson Harold Lord and his wife. Eventually, the cost of maintenance became a burden, and in 1983, Mary Burnett purchased the property from Mary Lord. The house has since been sold a few more times and is currently owned by James Hunt Barker's nephew, Hunt Edwards, and niece, Lela Cason, who are in the process of restoring it.

It was purchased by Mary Burnett in 1983 and underwent extensive renovation

The Wedding Cake House, formerly known as the George W. Bourne House, was purchased by Mary Burnett and her daughter Anne in 1983. The house was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George W. Bourne, who added intricate Gothic embellishments to the house after a fire destroyed the barn in 1852.

Mary Burnett and her daughter embarked on an extensive renovation and restoration of the mansion, which they completed in 1984. This included transforming the carriage house into an art gallery and studio. Burnett also painted a two-story mural of Kennebunk in the entrance hall. The house had passed through many generations of the Bourne family, and the cost of maintenance had become a burden, so Burnett's intervention was essential to preserving the historic structure.

The house is known for its romantic architecture and maritime history, with Bourne's shipbuilding origins reflected in the design. The main house combines colonial influences with Victorian refinement, and the carriage house connects the home and barn to a terrace, creating a unique setting for special occasions. The house's picturesque architectural details, such as its icing-like trim, have made it a beloved landmark and the most photographed house in Maine.

The house is currently owned by Hunt Edwards and Lela Cason, who are restoring it

The Wedding Cake House, formerly known as the George W. Bourne House, is currently owned by Hunt Edwards and Lela Cason, who are restoring it. The house has been in the process of restoration since 2019. Edwards has been working closely with the town and Historic Preservation Commission to preserve the intricate details of the exterior while repairing the structure and foundation. The house is located at 104 Summer Street in Kennebunk, Maine, and was built in 1825 by shipbuilder George W. Bourne. The house was constructed in a classic Federal architectural style, and Bourne later added elaborate Gothic decorations to the house, inspired by the spires and buttresses of the Cathedral in Milan. The house's "'wedding cake' name comes from its wedding cake-like appearance", and it has become a beloved landmark in Kennebunk.

The house boasts eight bedrooms and 6,263 square feet of living space, with serene surroundings overlooking the Kennebunk River. The interior features include a circular staircase with a hand-painted mural, a formal parlor with an antique Chickering piano, restored hardwood floors, custom millwork, built-in bookcases, and seven fireplaces. The property also includes a carriage house and a fully restored barn with a two-bedroom apartment.

The current owners, Hunt Edwards and Lela Cason, are the nephew and niece of the previous owner, James Hunt Barker, who passed away in 2020. Barker was an art lover and collector who opened his home to the public on several occasions to raise funds for charitable causes. The house has a rich history and has passed through many generations of the Bourne family before being sold to Mary Burnett in 1983 and then to Barker in 1998.

Frequently asked questions