Located in the village center of South Berwick, ME, the Stage House Inn is a stately and elegant wedding venue. The property offers 20 unique guest rooms, private function spaces, and Dufour, an on-site award-winning restaurant and bar. We are thrilled to share our historical charm and Maine-style hospitality with the community and travelers alike.

Facilities and Capacity

The Stage House Inn specializes in hosting private events. These include micro weddings (for up to 75 guests), showers, corporate events, holiday parties, baptism celebrations, funeral receptions, celebrations of life, and other events for 20-165 guests.

History

Since the late 1700s, the structure that now houses Stage House Inn and Dufour has served many purposes. Originally built as a private residence, it soon became a stagecoach stop where visitors would stop to eat and lodge at Frost Tavern after traveling hundreds of miles to load up on supplies at the river landing. Following that, it was Paul’s Hotel, and eventually also served as a boarding house. Then, for nearly 70 years during the 20th century, it was a convent run by the Sisters of St. Joseph Order. Dufour honors all their spirits with the many traces of history that remain here.
Joseph Dufour’s famous ‘Les Vues D’Italie’ panoramic wallpaper was initially hung in the dining room of Frost Tavern in the early 1820s. Sarah Frost, the owner of the tavern, ordered the wallpaper installation in advance of the arrival of General Lafayette, who stayed and dined here while traveling through the area on his famous Victory Tour in 1825. Sadly, the wallpaper was eventually covered over and forgotten. In 2017, during renovations, it was rediscovered under layers of sheetrock. Painstakingly restored and reinstalled, the historic block print is once again showcased in our Parlor dining room.
But Dufour’s historic design elements do not end there. After fleeing France in 1909, a small group of nuns from the Sisters of St. Joseph Order took sanctuary in this historic building, eventually opening a school for the French-Canadian children of the local immigrant mill workers. The decorative tin that once adorned St. Joseph’s convent now lines the walls and ceilings in various areas of the building. In the Bar area, fine marble countertops and tables are flanked by bronzed “chapel” arches above the bar, while repurposed church pews serve as restaurant seating. A breathtaking stained glass window created by a local artist illuminates the space, a final nod of appreciation to the nuns and this notable era of the venue’s history.