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The inn porch in the evening
Oakland House Reb n:
A Fami Trad ion Since 1889
By Nancy English Phot s courtesy of Oakland House Seaside Inn & Co ages
Hospitality is in the bloodline of the family who have welcomed guests to the Oakland House Seaside Inn and Cottages for 132 years.
Before that, with a land grant in 1767 from King George of Great Britain, the land supported the family as well, with granite quarried
to build the Brooklyn Bridge and other endeavors.
But the inn that opened to visitors in 1889 ushered in a tradition so strong, family members didn’t want to see it go out of the family.
Rick and Robin Littlefield, owners since January of 2018, treasure this place and have added treasure to it by renovating the main
building and opening up rooms in the second and third floors. A total of 11 rooms are available in 2020, with all but two con-
nected to a private bath.
“I call those the fishermen’s rooms,” said Robin, who, with her husband, also owns and operates Robin Hood Camp nearby, one of
the top camps in the world.
“It’s hard to describe a typical Oakland House guest; they are all different,” she said. The first rusticators tended to stay a long time,
the better to imbibe the healthy sea air. Now guests come from all over the world, and however long or short their stay, whether in
one of the handsome cabins, a room in the inn, or a hostel lodging in Acorn House, the former ice storage house, Robin takes special
pride in providing personalized service.
Grace Clayton, general manager, was with the Littlefield’s at Robin Hood Camp for eight years before moving to Oakland House
when it was purchased. She works there year-round, making sure skilled workers are lined up for the summer season.
“Service has always been what makes a place like this special,” Robin said. “If you want to hike everyday of your stay, we have staff
who have hiked every trail who can help you plan. We had guests who wanted fried clams for dinner, and we called every place in
the area ‘til we found one that had them on the menu. This is something people don’t always get – personalized service.”
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