1955 Fire

On Dec 22, 1955, a boiler fire started the Inn on fire. Garfield and Riley’s book “As Ancient is this Hostelry – The Story of the Wayside Inn” documents the fire, what was rescued, what did not survive, and the rebuilding effort. With great forethought and vision, the inn was rebuilt in its 18th-19th century appearance, sans the E.R.Lemon additions such as the front porch and dormers.

Wayside Inn fire 1955 1

Above: the west wing in flames

Wayside Inn Fire 1955 3

Above: the west and north wing completely gone

Wayside Inn Fire 1955 4

Above: the eastern front of the inn (the taproom, ER Lemon dining room) under full restoration

1954 (Just before the fire)

wayside inn 1954

1958 just after being rebuilt (see also 1958 HABS collection on this site)

Wayside inn late 1950s

Tavern Pages
- Taverns
"The days are short, the weather's cold, By tavern fires, tales are told. Some ask for dram when first come in, others with flip and bounce begin." New England Almanac, 1704

“Where dozed a fire of beechen logs that bred Strange fancies in its embers golden dred, And nursed the loggerhead, whose hissing dip, timed by wise instinct, creamed the bowl of flip” Jame Lowell, 1868

"The gods who are most interested in the human race preside over the tavern...The tavern will compare favorably with the church. The church is the place where prayers and sermons are delivered, but the tavern is where they are to take effect, and if the former are good, the latter cannot be bad." Thoreau

"Wheoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sign to think he still has found the warmest welcome at an inn." Shenstone

"Along the varying road of life, In calm content, in toil or strife, In morn or at noon, by night or day, How oft doth man by care oppressed Find at an inn a place of rest!" Combe

"What do you think Here is good drink. Perhaps you may not know it; If not in haste, do stop and taste, You merry folks will show it." Molineaux, 1774

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1955 Fire

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