The Bourne Cottage: A Storied Legacy on Long Pond
Tucked along the serene shoreline of Long Pond in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, the Bourne Cottage, has witnessed over a century of storied history, vision, tragedy, reinvention and whispered legends. Its elegant frame and sweeping lawns are not just the backdrop to a peaceful retreat, but the legacy of deeply human stories that span ambition, science, heartbreak, reinvention and resilience.
A Gilded Beginning and a Tragic Fall
The story begins in the early 1900s with Edward Russell Bourne, a prominent Philadelphia insurance broker and wealthy investor. In January 1903, he traveled to Maine, captivated by the Belgrade Lakes region’s natural beauty and tranquility. He purchased a parcel of shoreline land along Long Pond with dreams of building a luxurious summer estate — a place where the elite could retreat from city life.
Construction began soon after, with no expense spared. Bourne’s vision was grand: heated by steam, lit by electricity (unusual luxuries for the era) and framed with elegance. By 1904, he had already invested over $12,000 in the build — a fortune at the time.
Yet Bourne’s life unraveled with startling speed. Suffering intensely from chronic rheumatism and facing mounting isolation after dismissing his personal attendant, Bourne spiraled into depression. On September 17, 1904, he died by suicide in his room at the nearby Belgrade Hotel, a single gunshot ending the life of a man whose ambition had just begun to take physical form on the lakeshore. Reports described his death as likely the result of temporary insanity brought on by illness. It sent shockwaves through both Philadelphia and Maine.
Following his death, local contractor Ruel J. Noyes, who had overseen the cottage’s construction, traveled to Philadelphia to consult with Bourne’s estate. It was agreed the cottage would be completed, and later that fall, Noyes himself purchased the property from Bourne’s heirs. Thus, the Bourne Cottage passed from its visionary founder to a new chapter.
The Scientist and the Soldier: Col. Marston T. Bogert
Not long after, The Bourne Cottage became part of a broader Belgrade legacy through its association with Colonel Marston Taylor Bogert. A towering figure in the world of chemistry, Bogert was Columbia University’s first professor of organic chemistry, president of the American Chemical Society, and a key contributor to the development of chemical warfare defenses during World War I and World War II. His name became synonymous with scientific excellence, earning him the Priestley Medal and global respect.
Bogert maintained his summer residence in Belgrade for many years and was active locally, as a President of the Belgrade Lakes Association. He eventually becoming the link between The Bourne Cottage and the man who would redefine it for generations to come.
John J. Casale: Businessman, Equestrian and Enigmatic Figure
In 1918, while still in New York City, John J. Casale met Col. Bogert. Their friendship would shape the destiny of the Belgrade estate. Casale was a larger-than-life figure. A self-made millionaire, he built one of the largest truck leasing operations in the country, with a fleet of over 1,400 vehicles serving major industrial clients. His reputation, however, extended beyond business. His summer property in Rome, secluded and private, was said to have hosted gatherings that drew prominent and influential guests.
Casale had originally spent time fishing and staying at another of Col. Bogert’s cottages — the one located on the point, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Snyder. Mrs. Snyder was Bogert’s granddaughter, maintaining a family connection to the storied property. This early relationship with Bogert and the surrounding land deepened Casale’s ties to the region, setting the stage for his eventual acquisition of the Bourne Cottage.
In 1945, Casale purchased the property, by then part of the Bogert holdings, and renamed it Rome Farms. He transformed it into an expansive 180-acre estate, complete with Arabian horses, Hereford cattle, and pristine pastures. The grounds were kept in immaculate condition: white fences, lush lawns and barns that rivaled luxury stables. He extended the lawn to the lake by filling in 1,600 feet of shoreline, built guest cottages and tack rooms, and installed a private boathouse and a quarter-mile horse training track. His improvements turned the property into both a working farm and an elegant rural retreat.
Casale and his family often stayed in the upper portion of the property, while guests — including business associates and personal friends — were hosted in the main house and surrounding cottages. At its peak, Rome Farms included multiple cottages, barns, outbuildings and carefully maintained farmland, all arranged to balance privacy, hospitality and agricultural use.
Locals remember Casale for his charisma and generosity, as well as the quiet authority he projected. He was also a significant benefactor of St. Helena’s, Belgrade’s Catholic church, contributing to its upkeep and maintenance throughout his years in the community.
Legacy and Reinvention
In the 1960s, Rome Farms became a beloved landmark in the area. Casale and his family welcomed visitors to see the Appaloosas and Arabians in the fields. His great-granddaughter Paula was often seen riding beside him in a sleigh or wagon, sometimes dozing off in the sun. The stables, track, barns, and pastureland all told a story of both elegance and ambition — of a man who sought refuge, control and perhaps a bit of redemption.
Though Casale passed away years ago, the estate he shaped continues to inspire awe and curiosity. Its manicured lawns and lake views are now part of a living history — rooted in early 20th-century dreams and reshaped by figures of intellect, power, and myth.
The Bourne Cottage — or the “Green House,” as his family called the cottage - since divided from Rome Farms across the road, is more than just a summer home. It is a mirror reflecting the complex American story — of industry, brilliance, reinvention and legacy. To live here is to step into that ongoing narrative, as steward of a place of beauty for over a century.
Christopher Raleigh is a member of the board of directors of the Belgrade Historical Society.
Download Full Newspaper: High Res | Low Res (Details…)
<— Previous Article • Summaries • Next Article —>
©2025 by Summertime in the Belgrades. All rights reserved.