Alumni Spotlight
Marie Mosesso Reinhardt ‘63
Highnote Hospitality in Wiscasset, Maine
This article by Donna Waterman originally appeared in the Lincoln County
(ME) News. It is excerpted by permission.
Marie Reinhardt works as a substitute
teacher as well as managing Highnote
B&B. She visited Siena Heights this past
winter for the first time in 35 years.
In 1991, John Reinhardt came to Wiscasset, on the coast of Maine, to attend a
wedding. Back home, teaching English
in a Virginia Beach, VA, middle school,
his wife Marie awaited his return. Little
did she know that John had fallen in love
with a Victorian home perched atop Lee
Street. It was for sale.
In October, Marie flew up to see the
house, and what she saw was the beginning of a new life for both of them. John
knew Marie would not only fall in love with
the house, but with Wiscasset and Maine
as well. It was peak foliage season. How
could she resist?
Thinking back, Marie spoke softly: “I didn’t
want to come at first. But now I wish I
had come sooner. I love the wildlife and
beauty of the whole place.”
The house had been empty for two years
but was in wonderful shape. “We didn’t
have to do much,” Marie reminisced. The
home, built in 1876, isn’t the oldest in
town, but it is one of the most beautiful.
For five years, John and Marie summered
in Wiscasset, preparing the home as a
bed-and-breakfast. Then they moved
here permanently and have never looked
back. Marie brought along her beloved
horse, Chesapeake, who lives on the
property for most of the year. (He’s
boarded in nearby Boothbay in winter.)
Along with their cats, Purr and Jassmin,
they have made a life for themselves here
in “the prettiest village in Maine.”
Their home is now Highnote, a “B&B”
where guests stay among elegant Victorian furnishings and art.
“We have had such terrific people stay
here. And they return again and send
their friends,” Marie said. Highnote is
recommended in “The Lonely Planet,” a
book of travelers’ favorite places to stay
throughout the world; 80 percent of the
Reinhardts’ guests have found them from
reading “The Lonely Planet.” From Tasmania, Europe, Canada, and Asia, guests find
their way to Wiscasset and Highnote.
Marie loves to garden and she immediately
tackled the overgrown yard upon her arrival.
The cupola high atop the house is the perfect
place to start seedlings. “I’ve never had such
success with plants as I do here,”
she said. “It’s good to get back into
northern plants.” Her other passion
is riding Chesapeake; together they
explore the surrounding hills, looking
for birds and picking blueberries.
John, an antique art dealer, supplies
many of the period pieces found in the
home. He is also an accomplished opera singer and tours with a children’s
opera company, going into schools
as an Artist in Residence. The
children learn about all aspects
of an opera and become involved in the performance. To
aid in his teaching, John wrote
a script of “Marriage of Figaro”
for children. His students then
researched and helped to make
their costumes and performed in
the finale. “It was beautiful and
equaled any adult opera,” said
Marie with a smile.
Last summer, Highnote presented two operas for the community.
John’s daughter, Laura, an accomplished
soprano, accompanied her father. They
hope to offer more performances in
the future. With high notes and with
Highnote, the Reinhardts provide much
beauty in Wiscasset.