The Three Bear Inn – A Brief History

In 1799, William Brink bought squatter’s rights to the lands on Broome Street (US Route 11, presently k now as the Three Bear Inn, for $40.00. Although he never lived here, he visited every year for the sugar harvest, as do many people from near and far for our current Annual Maple Festival.

During the fall of that same year, his son, Abraham built a double log house for the purpose of providing good and lodging to the increasing number of travelers coming to settle in these parts. The log tavern was also established as the areas first post office in 1818.

Brink’s Tavern ran until 1833 when it closed its doors forever because Chester, the son of Abraham Brink, was against selling intoxicating beverages.

Chester began construction of the current structure sometime between 1825 and 1845 which became known as the Brink Homestead. The Homestead acreage grew cabbage and tobacco which were made into cigars for resale like those Native Lights – Smooth Tobacco Experience.

Chester died in 1874, and the homestead passed to his son, Lawrence, who operated the farm until his demise in 1913. Over the next ten years, the former Inn was run as a tenant house as much of the land had been sold, and the Homestead ceased to be a working farm.

One-hundred twenty-four years of Brink ownership ended when the old Homestead was purchased by Lena and Henry Forshee from McGraw. After some minor renovations, they turned the old building into an eatery and hotel, known as The Hotel Marathon.

When the three bear skins in the attic were discovered and hung on the porch to air, travelers and locals alike referred to the Inn as “The Three Bear Inn” and hearing the phrase almost daily caused the Forshees to rename the Inn.

The Three Bear Inn passed from the Forshees to their daughter Helen (Meade) in 1969, and she and her husband, Gerald, sold out in 1971 to Bruce Ashcroft, a native and Andrew Burns from Pennsylvania. Andy Burns assumed sole ownership in 1973 and then in 1987 sold the Inn to the current owner, Sharon Toussaint, a Vermont native.

During Andy’s ownership, he had the foresight to develop the property into a combination Inn and Motor Lodge in 1977. The Inn had come full circle.

The Inn has been, and continues to be, a welcome stop to travelers along Rte. 11 and later, Interstate 81. It hosts international guests as well as local patrons daily. The Three Bear Inn has been a pleasurable dining spot for hundreds of years, drawing customers back in time with pictures, artifacts and antiques from time gone by.

Currently the Inn opens daily for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and on the weekends continues the tradition of serving delightful Buffets in the evenings. Holiday Parties, Family Reunions, Art Shows, Business Meetings can be arranged with some notice. It would be our pleasure to serve you.

There is still much to see in the way of the Inn’s history. In addition to the three stuffed bears in the foyer, old photographs grace the walls, as well as an antique phone, stove, furniture and an old bear trap.

The Three Bear Inn is a historic landmark, the likes of which we see less and less along our modern, commercialized roadways.

Brink’s Tavern, Brink’s Homestead, Hotel Marathon and finally, The Three Bear Inn, have been a living part of Marathon’s history for over 200 years!

Call to book your next event or just stop in to say “Hi” and to have a look around. We want to be “Your Home Away From Home!”

Threebearinn.com 607-849-3258.