Originally known as Howe’s Tavern, then The Red Horse Tavern    

Built in the old Colonial day, when men lived in a grander way with ampler hospitality (quoting from Longfellow), this architectural and historical legend has been around for 293 years. Owned by five generations of the Howe Family (original settlers of Sudbury), it was expanded over the years many times. It was engulfed by a major fire in 1955 but fortunately much of the original structure remains. Unlike the other taverns mentioned on this site, the tavern is an actual working inn. On a peaceful winter night when the snow is falling gently, a fire is burning, and the sounds of fifes & drums are in the air…it’s like stepping back in time.  Longfellow made this inn famous with his “Tales of a Wayside Inn” published in 1863. 

“One Autumn night, in Sudbury town,
Across the meadows bare and brown,
The windows of the wayside inn
Gleamed red with fire-light…”

 Historical Images (see also index on side for many more pictures, discussion, history, items of interest) 

1880

 

“Drive with [James] Fields to the old Red Horse Tavern in Sudbury — alas ! no longer an inn ! A lovely valley, the winding road shaded by grand old oaks before the house. A rambling, tumble-down old building, two hundred years old.” Longfellow, 1862

 

 

Edward R. Lemon owned the Inn from 1897-1919 (1919 is when he died, his wife Cora owned it until 1923 and sold it to Henry Ford). During this time, he moved the wood shed and made what is now called the Ford Room. He added the dormers and added the porch.  If the Inn had the front porch by 1902 (see sale image below), the photos that follow without the porch (suggesting pre-1900) were probably purchased and stored until used later (postmarks of 1905-1907).

 

 

Wayside Inn 1890

   

 

 1897 (above, note the canvas awning)

Wayside Inn 1898 copyright

Wayside Inn circa 1900

 

  

 

 

1901 Wayside Inn

1902 Ad by E.R. Lemon, Countrylife in America Magazine (he did not sell)

1904 postmark

 

1904 postmark

1905 postmark Wayside Inn

1907 postmark

Wayside Inn 1910

1907 Wayside Inn

Wayside Inn circa ~1910

 1910

  

  

 

   

 1914

 

 1918

 

 

  

1930’s

 1930

 1933

 

  

  Continues over on Modern Views tab