06/11/2026
Carter - Rangeley Inn & Tavern is just south of the Common Houses, on Dowager’s Row. It’s been here going on forever!
Peter Carver, Esq. and Madison Rangeley built the home in the 1800’s, shortly after the war ended, and they could settle in. They were brother and sister, Peter taking care of Madison as she navigated her way through the early and sudden loss of Desmond Rangeley, her husband of juat over three years. Madison was carrying when Desmond fell ill. It was a rapid illness and wasted no time in taking his vitality. A fortnight, and he was gone.
Madison had triplets, which was a huge surprise. And an even bigger surprise is that they all survived! Medical care in those days left a lot to be desired. As I’m sure you can imagine! Morganna Jo was the firstborn, followed by Timothy Scott, and then Daniel Robert. As tradition dictates, the house was taken charge of by the firstborn son, Timothy.
The next passing of the property went to Timothy’s oldest son, Michael Johnathan in the mid 1900’s.
Michael’s wife, Bethany, only had two children, a boy and a girl. She had a hard time of pregnancy. There were losses during those years. The two she had were a gift from God. The son, Jeremiah, had a calling and retreated to a monastery. I’m not sure how much influence his grandfather on his mother’s side had in that decision. Her father had been a minister of an Anglican Church in England, before he was divinely guided here, to Middle Earth. Anyway, that meant that Jeremiah would not be assuming the traditional role as man of the estate.
Her daughter, Michaela Rose, married a well to do ship captain, Trevor Angus, and kept the family house running and the properties tended to. As he was frequently away on voyages, she was able to maintain a good balance of her social requirements and her duties to the running of the estate.
They had no children, sad to say. No telling why, maybe Trevor was gone on the ship too much. His death, too, came suddenly. A storm at sea came up out of nowhere and as big as that ship was, it was like kindling twigs to nature’s fury. Michaela had been watching from her balcony when the rider came up the road.
After the funeral, she had a year of mourning. She could be thankful, though, that this was her home, and no one could take it away. While she had a good deal of wealth, without her husband’s income, things could go south very quickly.
During that year, Michaela decided to convert the mansion to an inn and tavern, catering to the nearby residents and visitors. She drew up her plans and scheduled the improvements to the home.
It’s still named for Peter and Madison’s families. That was so very long ago. Michaela is getting up there in age, so she sold it to a cousin (I don’t know them) and they were there about a year and abandoned it! Can you imagine??
The few remaining family members didn’t want to assume the responsibility for the inn and tavern, so they released it to the town, providing Michaela is cared for and allowed to stay in her old home. Right now, they are working on a sale contract with some of the Baggins clan.
