We recently acquired a fantastic addition to our staff housing: the historic Snow Squall Inn just a few miles up the road in downtown Wiscasset.
Staff housing has been a real crunch at Chewonki for several years as our programs have grown, and when we learned Melanie Burns and Paul Harris (the former owners of the property) were interested in selling the inn, we couldn’t let the opportunity pass by. With communal living areas, a commercial kitchen, and enough bedrooms to house up to eighteen of our educators, the Snow Squall Inn is exactly what we were looking for.
“We are so pleased to reach this arrangement with Melanie and Paul,” says Chewonki President Willard Morgan. “Providing high-quality accommodations for our staff is essential to attract and retain a talented workforce, and this purchase will allow us to house up to eighteen adults who teach in our outdoor education programs.”
“We have had a wonderful relationship with Chewonki families for the past 15 years,” says Melanie Burns. “And are so pleased to leave our beloved property in the hands of such a wonderful organization.”
Of course, while we plan a few minor changes to the building, we’re working to preserve the essential character of the structure. “We place a high value on community-building in our programs and for our employees,” says Morgan. “The location and layout of the Snow Squall is very well suited to the kind of life-work balance we hope to promote.”
Morgan also noted that Chewonki expects minimal impact on the local neighborhood as occupancy rates and traffic patterns will not change. “Our staff will often travel as a group from the Snow Squall to Chewonki,” says Morgan. “The educators scheduled to move in are very excited to live within walking distance of the Wiscasset downtown, and the shops and restaurants that the area provides.
“Our Wicked Good Yoga classes will continue on the Wiscasset pier for the summer with permission from the town, and we will cherish the memories of time spent with our B&B guests and visitors,” says Burns. “We are grateful to the team at Chewonki for their kindness and consideration and wish them continued success in this new venture.”
As you read this, some of our educators are already moving into the Snow Squall, ready to make it their new home.
