After a November fire brought an abrupt end to The School House 1913, a new restaurant will soon open in the space, with a new chef, new general manager and new hours.
The restaurant will be called the Harpswell Schoolhouse, according to property owner Helen Norton. She also now owns the business, registered as Passion Project LLC.
“Everything except the building and contents are new,” she said.
The restaurant will open for dinner “around Easter or a week after,” Norton said. “It’s got us biting our nails,” as repairs to the dining area are being completed.
Service will be available Tuesday-Saturday, with extended hours from 5-9 p.m. and new “happy hours” from 4-6 p.m.
Colin Kelly, former executive chef at Gather in Yarmouth, will take over the kitchen. Majella O’Brien is the new general manager.
The menu is still in the works, but dishes will be upscale, influenced by French and American cuisine. Norton said casual food also will be available at the bar.
Kelly, the chef, is committed to using fresh, local, seasonal products, according to O’Brien. There are plans for on-site gardens growing vegetables and herbs, and for a monthly brunch.
Norton and Kelly share a commitment to sustainable foods and practices, such as minimizing waste and using solar energy, according to O’Brien.
The interior layout will be the same, and guests will see some familiar faces. J. Bruce Murphy will be back as host, and regulars likely will recognize O’Brien, as well as her Irish brogue. She grew up in Galway, Ireland, and is a veteran of the hospitality business.
After the fire in the apartment above the restaurant on Nov. 28, 2023, Norton seriously thought about selling the property at the intersection of Route 123 and Mountain Road.
“I was looking at the damage and how much was going to have to be done and, after my vast years of experience, I really didn’t know if I wanted to get involved again,” said Norton, a philanthropist who lives on Harpswell Neck.
She had owned the building at 506 Harpswell Neck Road since 2006 and leased it to restaurateurs. “I had no hands-on experience with the restaurant itself,” she said.
The apartment’s reconstruction is ongoing, and water from fighting the blaze drained downstairs to the main dining room.
“That meant taking down the ceiling, insulation and all the electrical,” Norton said, as well as replacing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting, and security and sound systems.
Norton said the fire was the second within days. The first fire, during Thanksgiving week, was caused when a pot was left on the restaurant’s stove, resulting in extensive smoke damage.
The second fire started on the apartment’s gas stove, although the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office and insurance executives couldn’t pinpoint the cause, Norton said.
“It was a major operation” to rebuild, Norton added, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
What changed her mind about selling?
“I felt we could do better,” she said, “and I wanted to prove it. Several of the staff were very committed to that place and loved it. They said they’d stick with me if I’d reopen it.”
