Weduba Camp China, Rangeley, Maine

You may know me as a quilt lover, but I really enjoy all types of objects, especially vintage and antique objects. This week, I received a surprise package from my mother, who lives in Maine. 

The Volckening summer home, across the lake from Weduba

The summer home at Rangeley Lake is for sale, and Mom has been busy trying to clear things out. Over the summer, she sent me a surprise package with two quilts. Mom likes sending surprise packages! This week, she sent a lovely little set of demitasse cups and saucers, along with a matching serving plate. 

The serving plate and demitasse set were part of the camp china from Weduba, our family's first summer home in Maine. Weduba was built in 1909 by the Ludekes, my mother's grandparents. It was, and still is, one of the grand lodges on Rangeley Lake. Made of huge logs, the spacious structure had breathtaking views of the sunsets reflecting off the lake through the birch, and a massive stone fireplace.

Weduba, Rangeley Lake, Maine, built in 1909

Much has changed in 100 years. The lodge was built during an era when big hotels lined the shores of Rangeley Lake, and the railroads transported families there for summer vacations from all over New England, New York, and New Jersey. The lodge has had several owners, and was opened as an inn and restaurant by the Davis family in the early 1950's. It has had a series of owners, undergone significant renovation, and had its name changed several times over the years. 

Weduba is now called Loon Lodge. Photo courtesy of Loon Lodge.

Weduba, now called Loon Lodge, is open once again and they even have a web site. I was a little blown away by that! It's not always easy to get an internet connection in Rangeley. My great grandparents had a long journey to get to their summer home. I'm sure they would've never imagined being able to send an instant electronic message from Portland, Oregon to Rangeley, Maine - but that's what I did.

Loon Lodge during the holidays. Photo courtesy of Loon Lodge.

Thank you to Loon Lodge for allowing me to post some photos from their web site. The place looks marvelous! I try to stop in for dinner whenever I'm in the area, but since I live on the other side of the country, I don't get there as often as I'd like. Some interesting side notes about Weduba. The room where the pub is now was once my great grandmother's bedroom. It was she who had the money to build the lodge, and she was so pleased with the finished structure, she included a generous tip with her payment.

Back to the china. I knew about the set, but hadn't realized it was the Ludeke's camp china. It is Imperial Crown China from Austria, and is rather delicate looking for a log summer home in the woods of rural Maine. Detailed with gold, the demitasse cups are so fine, you can see light passing through them when held up to the light. The Ludeke family was affluent and refined. For them, this was roughing it.

Rangeley on Dwellable