The Nichols family once owned the property on which the Wildflower Inn is located. In the mid-1800’s, the property was purchased by Stephen Plummer, a sail maker, and his wife Sarah, who were both born and raised in Maine. A year later, they built their ‘Greek Revival’ style home. Stephen and Sarah had one child, Mary, who was born in 1851. Mary E. Plummer married Sea Captain William Henry West and they both lived in the Plummer’s home with their four children, John, Stephen, Ida, and Henrietta. Between the years of 1871 and 1901, Captain West commanded three different schooners; the Brunette, the Lizzie Lane, and the Sallie I’on. Mary died of consumption at the age of 36 and Captain West remarried and moved to Boston with his new wife, Ida. Sarah Plummer died in 1891 at the age of 76 and Stephen Plummer remained in the house until his death in 1899. All were laid to rest in Elmwood Cemetery in Searsport.
During the Victorian Christmas Tour of 2005, we were fortunate to meet Jack McLaughlin. From him, we learned that his family owned the home from the early 1900’s until the Wentworth family purchased it in the mid 1950’s. In the 1980’s, Jim Rose and his partner Terry converted the home to a bed and breakfast, The House of Three Chimneys. The property has changed hands several times since then, and has not always been operated as a bed and breakfast. We do know that the Plumstead family lived here in 1998 and that Jennie and her sister left an inscription on the back of a closet door in the basement.
In 2002 the inn was reopened under the name Wildflower Inn, and since its last sale in 2004, continues to operate under the same name.
