It took a vision, creative thinking and a good contractor to create this comfortable, albeit tiny, home that sits on the East side of the harbor and is part of this year’s Boothbay Region Garden Club House and Garden Tour.

This house is so well known by the local population that it could be considered a historic icon. Originally built in 1902 by Abe Rowe to house his small butcher shop, the building has taken on many different personas over the years, most often as a small retail shop offering food related goods and services. No matter what was being sold, it seems it has pretty much always been known by locals as the Eastside Store. More recently, the building has been used as a private residence and an art gallery. It was, in fact, a small gallery at the time it was rescued from decline by the present owners who saw potential and breathed new life into it to create, for themselves, a small summer cottage.

At 1,000 square feet, on a limited piece of land, it took a great deal of ingenuity for the owners to expand their space, but expand they did to create a home with an additional bath and two bedrooms.

Harbor residents have been watching this tiny house grow as the renovation has just been completed. With an eye for good design and careful regard for historical preservation, this tiny house will live on into the future but still be recognizable by many as what once was the neighborhood store.

Tickets are still available for the July 19 House and Garden Tour and can be purchased in person from the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce located at 192 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or directly from Irene Gerny (633-5052) or Pat McMurry (633-7405). Tickets are $30 prepaid and $35 the day of the tour. Only cash or checks will be accepted for payment.