A barn once utilized as a recording studio by the acclaimed 1960s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary has been listed for sale in South Blue Hill, Maine, with a price tag of $1.125 million.
Known locally as the Henhouse, the four-story property was acquired and restored by Noel Paul Stookey, the 'Paul' of the trio, in the mid-1970s. Stookey, who moved to the Blue Hill peninsula with his family, transformed the former chicken coop into a center for music, animation, radio, and film. He recorded several Maine artists at the barn, including singer-songwriter David Mallett.
While it is unclear if Peter, Paul and Mary themselves recorded at the Henhouse, the property was a hub for creative activity during Stookey's time there. The barn also served as the initial broadcasting location for local community radio station WERU from 1988 for about nine years and hosted collections for the Northeast Historic Film archive.
Stookey, his wife Betty Bannard, and their three daughters moved to Blue Hill from New York City in 1974, seeking an escape from urban life. Stookey has described his time in Maine as a "love affair with Maine."
Peter, Paul and Mary rose to prominence in the early 1960s with hits like "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and their rendition of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." Stookey is now the sole surviving member of the trio, following the deaths of Peter Yarrow in January and Mary Travers in 2009.
The 7,700-square-foot structure sits on just over two acres. The property has undergone recent upgrades, including new kitchens on the first three floors, a new propane heating system, and a new roof. The top floor, which previously housed Stookey's recording studio, has been configured as a loft-style apartment that has been rented seasonally.
The barn was last sold in 2016 for $215,000. The current owner is selling the property as they are moving out of state. The listing agent, Molly Dwyer, has suggested the property could be ideal for an artistic retreat or center, or as an investment for apartment rentals, noting the area's limited rental options and the potential for affordable housing.
The property was previously listed last October before being removed from the market in January. Stookey, though no longer owning the barn, still resides in Blue Hill, as do other members of his family.