A couple hundred years ago, back in the days before mass transportation and sprawling urban development, the general store was the center of daily life in small town America.
Farmers and city folk alike would meet there to conduct business, pick up supplies, or just exchange gossip. For rural farming communities, weeks or even months might pass before distant neighbors had the chance to see each other in person. Going to “town”, even if it was just a short trip to pick up mail, was a major event.
In Sudbury, Massachusetts, not far from where I grew up, the Wayside Store is one surviving example of this venerable institution. Built in 1790, the store is a true multi-purpose building, having also served as the town’s school and post office throughout the years. By 1923, after nearly a hundred and fifty years of continual use, the Wayside Store was definitely showing its age— at least, it was until Henry Ford bought it.
At the height of his wealth, automobile magnate Henry Ford became something of a… character. Not content to sit on his massive piles of money, Ford grew passionate about several hobbies, such as union busting, anti-Semitism, and preserving Americana. Inspired by the philanthropy of his contemporaries— tycoons like Andrew Carnegie, who donated hundred of millions of dollars to build public libraries— Henry Ford set off on a quest to preserve historic American buildings. And after enabling the restoration of George Washington’s retirement home, Mount Vernon, Ford set his sights on an even bigger project.
In 1923, Henry Ford purchased Sudbury’s famous Wayside Inn— one of the oldest hotels in the United States, in continuous operation since 1716. The Inn was a minor celebrity in its own right, after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized it in a series of poems and stories in 1863. Ford purchased a parcel of 300 acres around the Inn, with a grand vision to re-create an entire historical village. In the process, he commissioned a functional flour mill, renovated a historic school house, and relocated the Wayside Store to a picturesque lakeside location.
Ford’s concept, however, never quite made it to completion. As a visionary entrepreneur, he might have been just a few years ahead of his time, since living history communities like Colonial Williamsburg or Plymouth Plantation wouldn’t become viable tourist attractions for at least another decade. But Ford’s efforts did lead to the creation of the Wayside Historic District, a conglomeration of nine historically significant buildings which have since become unmistakable landmarks in Sudbury.
Back in my day, the Wayside Store made for a great day trip destination, and kids from my neck of the woods always loved stopping into the penny candy shop. Today, I’m thrilled to report that the business is still going strong! The Wayside Store has grown over the years, adding a few new shops and more parking, so there’s truly has something for everyone. If you ever happen to find yourself passing through central Massachusetts with some time to kill, the Wayside Store is a perfect excuse to veer off the beaten path for an hour or two.
