The Inns of New Ipswich

- January 23, 2018

There were several inns in New Ipswich which were photographed and reproduced as postcards. The original glass negatives for those images were donated to the New Ipswich Historical Society and are published on the Society's Website.

One of the most reproduced photos was this one of the Appleton Inn. The Society has multiple prints of the Appleton Inn but they all seem to come from this glass negative.

Appleton Inn scanned from Glass Negative
NIHS Collection Ref 2015.001.006

Currently the Appleton Manor, a private residence occupies the same location at the intersection of Main Street and Turnpike Road. Sad to see the loss of that beautiful porch.

Appleton Manor - Mar 12, 2007
Photo by John M Poltrack

The glass negatives were kept in protective paper sleeves which had photographer notes for exposure, shutter speed and sometimes locations. This negative did not have the location noted but the partial upper porch and fencing indicate that it was the 1808 House. Note the trellis on the lower porch.

Glass Negative Ref 2015-07-039
The negative protective sleeve has the name James Barr.

One common feature of these inns was the presence of a covered porch, a place to sit and enjoy the outdoors protected from the sun and rain. It appears that all the guests were out on this day at the Homestead Inn.

Rev. George J. Prescott. rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Boston renovated this residence as a house of refuge for weary shopgirls and self-supporting women who needed rest and tonic of quiet, fresh air, abundant food, and social cheer. - Source History of New Ipswich page 152