Stepping Back in Time: History, Ghosts, and Leadership at the Wayside Inn
If you are looking for a place where history, literature, and leadership converge, look no further than Sudbury, Massachusetts. In a recent episode of Travel in Time with Dan, I take us on a journey to the Wayside Inn, a landmark that is literally older than the United States of America.
The Oldest Operating Inn in America
Located on the historic Boston Post Road, the Wayside Inn opened its doors in 1716. While some might point to the White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island as a contender for the title of “oldest,” I’m clarifying that the Wayside Inn holds the distinction of being the oldest operating inn in America, rather than just a tavern.
A Revolutionary Legacy
The inn’s walls have witnessed the birth of a nation. It served as a meeting place for the Sudbury Minutemen, who gathered in the tavern to plan and discuss revolutionary ideas.
Years later, the inn achieved literary immortality thanks to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Inspired by the setting, he wrote Tales of a Wayside Inn, a collection of poems modeled after the Canterbury Tales. One of his most famous works, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” was written as the “landlord’s tale” on the eve of the Civil War in a heartfelt attempt to unite a fracturing country.
Henry Ford and the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” Connection
The property eventually caught the eye of auto magnate Henry Ford, who fell in love with its history and invested heavily in the site. The historic district now spans over 100 acres and features nine historic buildings. Ford originally considered creating a colonial village here before ultimately moving that project to Michigan.
One of the most charming buildings on the property is the Redstone Schoolhouse. If the name sounds familiar, it is because this schoolhouse is famous for being the setting associated with the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.
Ghosts and the Secret Drawer Society
No historic inn is complete without a few ghost stories. The Wayside Inn is reportedly haunted following a tragic event in 1861, when Jerusha Howe, a member of the original Howe family, was murdered.
Today, visitors can engage with this spooky history through the Secret Drawer Society. While enjoying food or drink, guests can hunt for secret messages hidden in small drawers throughout the inn or even leave their own messages for the ghost of Jerusha.
The Leadership Lesson: The Parlor Principle
Here, I point to the history of the inn to illustrate a vital leadership concept: The Parlor Principle. Leadership thrives on diverse perspectives. When the Sudbury Minutemen met at the inn, they avoided creating an “echo chamber”. By inviting different opinions and perspectives, they were able to exercise the kind of leadership necessary to win the American Revolutionary War.
Whether you are there for the haunting tales, the literary history, the leadership insights, or even the great food, the Wayside Inn offers a unique glimpse into the American past.
Analogy for Understanding the “Parlor Principle”: Think of leadership like a mosaic. If every piece of glass is the exact same color and shape, you don’t have a picture; you just have a pile of tiles. It is only when you bring together different shapes, sizes, and colors—diverse perspectives—that a clear and beautiful image of a solution begins to emerge.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
*Check out Dan’s book, “Travel in Time in the Northeast: https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Time-Northeast-Timeless-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0FZBQ2FHS/
*Watch Dan’s YouTube video on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlAIIIqVawA
Listen to Dan’s podcast on this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gZYvoDr6Fn8pnKsltlgRp?si=wOi8SDjoTBCbi-axxTU40A
*See Dan’s Interview with the ghost of Jerusha Howe: (Coming soon)
*Learn more about Dan: https://granddaddyssecrets.com/