Haunted Houses - Longfellow's Wayside Inn

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2011-07-23 21:08

Longfellow Wayside Inn


Why did we rate this "Confirmed"? Because multiple sources off the internet sites have experienced paranormal activity at this location & therefore warrants a rating of "Confirmed".

What's the tale? Longfellow's Wayside Inn is 300 years old, being built in 1707. It was built by David Howe for his pregnant wife and their expected family (they went on to have seven children). In 1717 Howe converted his home to an Inn and provided dining and entertainment as well. It went on to David's son, Colonel Ezekiel Howe, who managed the Inn and changed the name to "The Red Horse". It became a meeting place for the militia to group and organize before they followed Colonel Ezekiel on April 19, 1775 to fight in Concord during the Revolutionary War. Colonel Ezekiel passed the Inn to his son, Adam Howe, in 1796 who in turn passed it to his son Lyman in 1830. Lyman never married and died childless. The most famous person to sign in to stay at the Inn was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who came for a rest, to recover from his wife's death and to find inspiration to overcome his writer's block, in 1862. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow indeed found comfort and inspiration here. He wrote his book, Tales of a Wayside Inn in 1863 in the Hotel parlor. In 1897 Edward Lemon bought the Inn and remodeled the entire property. He renamed the Inn to Longfellow's Wayside Inn as to take advantage of its most famous guest. Edward Lemon died and his widow sold the property to Henry Ford in 1923, who renovated the Inn, moved the old school house onto the property, and made the last additions to the Inn. The ghost of Jerusha Howe still haunts the Inn. A lovesick young woman she still waits for her love to come rescue her. She fell in love with a man fron England who wooed and courted her during his stay in Massachusetts, but he left and never returned. Jerusha believed his promises to come back and make her his wife and she died unmarried waiting for her lover. She still waits and it was her powerful testament of love that developed the "Secret Drawer Society". Those who have worked or stayed at the Inn who have felt Jerusha's presence leave her notes in the drawers of the desks and tucked inside other crannies of the house.

What do we know as fact? Thanks to this site we know the Inn has operated publicly for 290 years. David Howe converted a portion of his home into a "hous of entertainment" in 1716. It became known as Howe's Tavern. This building has deep & significant history serving thousands over its years of operation. If you have a moment read the history of the Inn and you will be amazed. George Washington did visit this Inn as documented in his own journal. The site does not mention Ezekiel's name change from "Howe's Tavern" to "The Red Horse". In 1775 it did serve as a meeting place for the then Lieutenant Colonel Ezekiel & his militia. Jerusha did live and die on the property, passing at 45 years in 1842 unmarried. Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal about the Inn on May 22, 1853. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow came to stay at the Inn in October 1862 with his publisher James Fields. It resulted in an amazing book "Tales of a Wayside Inn" which immortalized this Inn for the public forever.

Thoughts: This location is confirmed haunted due to the sheer number of repots of paranormal activity on the site.

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