Rosserne
As the most distinguished house of widely acclaimed Northeast Harbor architect Fred L. Savage, Rosserne epitomizes Mount Desert Island’s long tradition as a prosperous coastal haven and celebrates the island’s legacy of patronage.
The character of the six-acre site derives from a limited palette—gently shaped landform, landmark trees, native spruce forest, and an emphasis on the surrounding water and sky. Precise grading brings forward the land’s great strength and the house’s proud westerly aspect. Orchards, cutting gardens, rescued outbuildings, and walking trails have been added. The great expanse of lawn overlooking the sound—which requires significant maintenance—is a local point of pride and is thus considered an essential part of the owner’s fidelity to Rosserne’s storied past. By employing a discreet hand, emphasizing careful editing as much as quiet intervention, Rosserne proves the value of a curatorial approach to a historically significant property.
