The Morning Sentinel

July 26

Norridgewock tea room has unique atmosphere

By Erin Rhoda erhoda@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

NORRIDGEWOCK -- The owners of a new business downtown decided to convert a 194-year-old farmhouse into a tea and coffee shop after they got the idea from one of their daughter's math homework problems.

The math question, which centered on coffee, sparked more than an answer from Kim and Nathan Richards' daughter, Kelsey. It generated an "aha" moment for what to do with the old farmhouse the couple inherited, which has been in their family since 1909.

The inside of the Hillside Coffee & Tea Room still looks like a home. Kim cooks in what was her mother-in-law's kitchen, which displays a pewter collection on a shelf above the brick fireplace, along with a picture of Nathan when he was 2.

There are pastries in a glass case in the former living room, which still has a couch, along with framed pictures of relatives on the walls. The background music -- featuring Boots Randolph, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams -- comes from a record player.

About 20 people can fit in the sunny space that was once a parlor and, later, two bedrooms, at different times in the house's history. The converted area is where Kim serves muffins, cinnamon rolls, turnovers and morning casseroles for breakfast.

For lunch it's a variety of sandwiches, quiches and desserts. She creates a different menu each week. Ellen Belanger of Fire House Bakery in Madison helps cook.

"I hope she does extremely well. We like to see Norridgewock grow," said Marlene Clark, owner of Oosoola Country Store in Norridgewock, when she came to the tea house for lunch recently.

Ellen Govoni, of Smithfield, said she loves the ambiance and food. "You can sit and have a nice conversation," she said.

Sheila Robbins, of Skowhegan, agrees. "I love the smells emanating from here," she said.

Kim -- who is also a certified nursing assistant, hairdresser, painter, mother of three, pastor's wife and former ed tech -- said there wasn't time to mourn the death of her father-in-law, Geoffrey, when he died in 2001 because she then took care of his wife, Sandra.

When Sandra passed away in 2008, "It was really hard to see this house empty," she said.

"I think the call was to make this house filled again."

Since she opened at the end of January, it's been "up and down," she said.

"I am gaining all the time," she said, adding that she sees new faces every week and is keeping the regulars.

The home, at 22 Waterville Road, was built in 1816 by Timothy Heald, who started some saw mills in town, she said. His son, Calvin, built the house they live in now, in 1786.

Hillside Coffee & Tea Room may also be haunted, she said. Once, when she was washing dishes, she heard a "heavy banging" on the window in the bathroom. She thought it was her husband, but he wasn't home.

When she returned to the dishes, she felt something blow on her neck. There was no other wind, she said.

Another time, someone outside saw an old lady walking inside the house. As it turns out, no one was home.

Erin Rhoda -- 474-9534

erhoda@centralmaine.com