Coming Soon
A writers’ retreat and micro-wedding venue in Mariaville, Maine.
Where is the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat located?
The Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat is located in the quaint village of Mariaville, Maine (incorporated 1836)—a place so rural it doesn’t have a downtown, a post office, or even a general store. What Mariaville lacks in amenities, however, it more than makes up for in natural beauty and kind-hearted neighbors.
The pristine forests wink at Mariaville’s heyday, when the booming lumber industry complemented a local brickworks, a grist mill, and a tannery. Today it’s a sleepy stop along Highway 181, quiet, secluded, and wild: everything the working writer needs.
Why isn’t the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat open now?!
I know, I know. We wish it was open, too! When we bought the property in November 2021, though, we did so in the full knowledge that the original structure on this property, a vacant schoolhouse c. 1879, needed a lot of work. That work takes time. It also takes money—which is why we’re accepting monetary gifts toward the restoration and preservation of this historic building below.
The schoolhouse proper, now almost 150 years old, requires a new foundation, interior remodeling, and a metal roof to get up and running, not to mention electricity, a well, and a septic system. Furthermore, we’ve made a commitment to use only local labor and materials so as to support the Mariaville economy—especially those families who have been here for generations—which means sometimes things take a little bit longer. But all good things to those who wait, eh?
What will the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat be like?
In addition to the main schoolhouse, which will double as a micro-wedding venue when Jess isn’t teaching writing classes, the retreat will have four modern eco-cabins nestled on thirteen acres of untouched trees. Each WI-FI-equipped cabin will have a writing desk and chair, twin bed with memory foam mattress, composting toilet, shower, and small kitchenette—perfect for carving out the writer’s most elusive luxury: time.
It’s our hope that at the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat you can enjoy an uninterrupted hiatus away from distraction and responsibility and finally finish that novel, screenplay, dissertation, or blog. Of course, when you’re ready for a break from all the writing, our interconnected trail network leads variously to an apple orchard, a rose garden, and a brown trout brook. Well-behaved dogs welcome for an additional fee.
Can I get married at the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat?
You can! (Eventually.) Once a primary school serving first through eighth grades, the Lincoln School is in the process of being updated for the twenty-first century. Soon, it will be a light and bright space able to accommodate up to twelve people for a micro-wedding or other intimate function.
Also featuring a modern bathroom and kitchenette.
Who owns the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat?
Jessica Bross (pen name Jess Hagemann) is a working writer from Austin. She teaches memoir-writing, edits fiction, and coaches writers in both fields—so if you’d relish another set of eyes on your manuscript or a thoughtful gab session spent dissecting story structure, check out her business Cider Spoon Stories.
Brandon Bross runs Greenbelt Press, an academic press serving Texas universities.
Whisky the Vizsla runs the woods.
Local Author
Mark E. Honey
“It is my hope that this book will serve as a source of information on Mariaville, and that future generations will be able to add to this. It is also my hope that the generations that come after me will be more diligent in caring for their past, a treasure which belongs to all of us.” (Mariaville: A History, 1986)
What kind of wildlife lives at the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat?
So far we’ve seen porcupines, squirrels, and more bird species than we can count, including turkeys, grouse, and woodpeckers.
The deer, moose, and black bears leave occasional tracks, but we haven’t come face to face with any yet.
Whisky the Vizsla visits Bar Harbor
How do I get to the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat?
Any way you want—though cars and planes are easiest. We’ve made the drive to Mariaville, Maine from Austin, Texas many times, and trust us, the scenery is worth the 2,400 miles! If you prefer to fly in, the Bangor airport is 45 minutes away, and the Portland airport is 2.5 hours away.
You’ll want to rent a car to get groceries at the Otis Store (5 minutes away), patronize restaurants in Ellsworth (25 minutes), visit under-appreciated Cherryfield (ironically the blueberry capital of the world—50 minutes), sample lobster in Bar Harbor (60 minutes), drive up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park (60 minutes), scope the sailboats in Stonington (70 minutes), and check out the Maine Cabin Masters headquarters in Augusta (100 minutes).
How can I support the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat?
Gift any amount at all through the link below.
A few fun suggestions:
$4.90 was the amount tuition at the Lincoln School cost in 1879.
$40.72 was the average Mariaville teacher salary in 1879.
$52.10 was how much the wood stove purchased to heat the Lincoln School cost in 1879.
$112.00 was the total number of students enrolled across five Mariaville schools in 1879.
$435.95 was the total amount (materials and labor) it cost to build the Lincoln School originally.
$1,879.00 was the year the Lincoln School was built.
Gift $500 or more to have something at the Lincoln School Writers’ Retreat named after you, like a bench or a grove.
Alternatively, you can join our mailing list, also below, to be the first to know when the retreat opens!
Give a gift.
The success of this venture starts and ends with you.
Ready to book your writing retreat or micro-wedding? We can’t wait to host you! Stay tuned for our grand opening (and stay in touch!) by joining our mailing list here.