Massachusetts
Visit these five eastern Mass. country stores to enjoy gifts, candy and nostalgia
Country stores have been part of the fabric of New England for more than 200 years.
In addition to offering clothing, tools, household items, local dairy, meats and produce, toys and sweets, country stores — also known as general stores — provide a gathering place for residents and visitors of a community.
Folks who wanted to make a phone call, mail a letter or pick up a package would stop by the local country store —which often had the only telephone in the area, and was one of just a few places from which mail could be delivered.
Massachusetts is dotted with country stores, many that date back more than 100 years. Though they offer more modern conveniences these days, many have retained a nostalgic ambiance and certain amenities that people find charming.
Here are a few country stores worth visiting for some unique shopping, as well as a glimpse into yesteryear.
‘Icon of a store’: Fiske’s General Store has met every challenge in Holliston since 1863
1829 Country Store
26 Otis St., Mansfield
A meeting of modern vintage good and classic country favorites comes together in this historic building established in 1829. New owners reopened the store in 2022 to provide visitors with nostalgic favorites, specialty food, seasonal items and one-of-a-kind finds.
Owner Mary Pat McSharry thinks the store is popular “because we have the nostalgia that they remember and because we have a fresh take on the old country store.”
In addition to candy, popular items include candles, gifts, and cards.”
Visit 1829countrystore.com for more information.
Bramhall’s Country Store
2 Sandwich Road, Plymouth
Bramhall’s Country Store, established in 1828, has been operated by the same family since it was founded. The old saltbox structure has been many things in the past — a cobbler’s shop, a carpentry barn and one of the first post offices in the U.S.
Bramhall’s is known for three summer staples: lobster rolls, local corn and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, which can be enjoyed at a picnic tabled under the shade trees. There are plenty of historic artifacts on display to add to the feeling of being truly back in time.
“It’s a historical landmark in the neighborhood,” said manager Sally Bramhall. “My dad wanted to make it into a local meeting place, so we have local meats and produce. We try to employ local kids, it’s a great first job, they can ride their bikes or walk here.”
She said the store is known for its lobster rolls — caught by a local fisherman — and its ice cream.
Visit bramhallscountrystore.com for more information.
Davoll’s General Store
1228 Russells Mills Road, South Dartmouth
One of the oldest country stores in the country, Davoll’s was established in 1793. Its current owners did some renovations to the building in 2021, adding a café and pub. Art, food and creations by local artisans can be found throughout. A library of books is a popular part of the store, and features cooking, children’s books, fiction and nonfiction, even a section of “local authors.”
Visit davolls.com for more information.
Marshfield Hills General Store
165 Prospect St., Marshfield Hills
Located in a picturesque neighborhood in this seaside community, the General Store started out in 1853 selling grain and food items. It eventually expanded to include jewelry, hostess gifts, artwork from local artists, accessories, penny candy, greeting cards, and more. A special selection of wines is also available for purchase. Enjoy a cup of coffee and some good conversation.
“We’re in a beach town and there are a lot of tourists in the summer, so we’re kind of a destination for them,” said manager Tish Adams. “We’ve also opened an ice cream shop next door, Jenny’s.”
Items always in demand include candy, gifts and “the best” cards.
You might also catch a glimpse of its co-owner, renowned actor and comedian Steve Carell.
Visit marshfieldhillsgeneralstore.com for more information.
Wayside Country Store
1015 Boston Post Road (Route 20), Marlborough
Built in 1790, the Wayside Country Store originally stood in the center of Sudbury where it served as a post office and school in addition to a general store. On the second floor was a grand ballroom. The building was relocated to its current site on Hager Pond by Henry Ford, who purchased the building in 1928. It was the first country store in the U.S. to be re-established and restored. Find vintage candy, handmade items, New England souvenirs, books, gifts, and natural remedies, among other country store staples.
Despite the history of the building, what is most awe-inspiring to visitors, according to manager Sara Scerra, is the candy they offer.
“We have jars of candy, about 60 to 70 jars,” she said. “When people come in, they’re like, ‘wow.’”
The candy is probably the most popular item at the store, second only to the chocolates.
“We have a full line of chocolates,” Scerra said. “Come in and check us out.”
Visit waysidecountrystore.com for more information.
A family was rescued after being stranded on a remote Massachusetts island for a little over a day after their boat caught fire.
A mother, father and son set sail from Eel Pond in Falmouth on Friday, the Coast Guard said in a Wednesday statement. They planned to take their 30-foot boat between Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard and anchor there for the weekend.
Local outlets identified the mom as Cynthia, or Cici, Sullivan, the dad as Patrick Sullivan and their son as Tyler Sullivan. The Coast Guard has not identified the family or said where they are from.
When the family did not return Tuesday evening, a concerned relative alerted the authorities. The Coast Guard, Falmouth authorities and volunteers searched for the boat Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
The Coast Guard said the family had woken up to their boat on fire Monday night, prompting them to abandon ship. The family managed to swim to nearby Naushon Island, the largest of the Elizabeth Islands, and find shelter in a barn.
During the search for the family’s boat, authorities attempted to contact the boat’s crew, but the calls went straight to voicemail, and cell phone pings didn’t provide an accurate location.
The Coast Guard said when the son was walking along the remote beach, he found the boat’s marine radio, which had washed ashore.
On Wednesday morning, the Coast Guard received a mayday call on the radio. After finding the family, Nashuon Trust volunteers provided them with first aid. They were subsequently transferred via a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk to Cape Cod Hospital.
Cici remains in the ICU in critical but stable condition, and Patrick was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for burn treatment, according to a statement from the Sullivan family shared by CBS Boston. Tyler, who is in stable condition, suffered third-degree burns on his arm and smoke inhalation, according to the local outlet.
“The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard and all emergency personnel who participated in the search and rescue efforts,” the Sullivan family said.
The Coast Guard commended the family’s “quick thinking” that led to their survival.
“Quick thinking and having quality equipment allowed the family to survive and call for help,” Scott Backholm, a search and rescue mission coordinator from Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, said in a statement. “Mariners are encouraged to pursue first aid training and ensure their vessels are outfitted with proper safety equipment.”
The Independent has reached out to the Coast Guard for additional comment.
A ghost in a haunted Gardner mansion appears to be having a ball
A ball left on the staircase inside the S.K. Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion appears to move on its own in this video.
Provided by John Godino
Ready to celebrate Halloween next week?
While preparations for the holiday typically include buying candy and watching spooky movies, if you’re a true horror fan, you’re probably looking for ways to celebrate the more scary aspect of the holiday. Luckily, Massachusetts has plenty of haunted places you can visit this spooky season, including restaurants, hotels, cemeteries and even ships.
Here are 10 must-visit haunted places in Massachusetts to check out this fall.
Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast
For those who love true crime, this Fall River bed and breakfast allows you to eat or stay at the scene of a historic murder. The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast is the former house of Lizzie Borden, the primary yet exonerated suspect in the unsolved axe murders of her father Andrew Borden and stepmother Abby Gray in 1892.
Guests can stay in the rooms where the murders happened and eat breakfast in the very room where the first autopsies were performed. Many report a chilling dining experience, with guests often seeing apparitions of Lizzie or her deceased parents.
Room rates at the Lizzie Borden House typically range from $200-400, with breakfast for an additional $20 per person. To secure the room option you want, it is recommended to book as far in advance as possible. The hardest months to get a booking are August and October.
If you don’t want to sleep with ghosts but still want to visit, the Lizzie Borden House also offers daily tours from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at $30 a ticket, nightly ghost tours from 7 to 9 p.m. at $25 a ticket and nightly ghost hunts from 10 p.m. to midnight at $40 a ticket.
Location: 230 Second St., Fall River
Omni Parker House
Founded in 1855, the Omni Parker House is one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the country, housing names like Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawhorne, Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, Judy Garland, James Dean and more.
However, the most popular name at the Omni is Harvey Parker, who is believed to haunt the hotel he once founded. Guests have reported seeing an apparition of a older man with a mustache wearing clothes from the 1800s floating through the hallways or standing inside guest rooms, according to the Omni Hotels’ “Unpacked” blog.
Other ghostly encounters include noise complaints for empty rooms, a lingering smell of whiskey and the elevator traveling to the third floor – the floor where Charles Dickens once stayed – by itself.
If you want to see Parker with your own eyes, make a reservation to stay at Omni Parker House online.
Location: 60 School St., Boston
S. K. Pierce Mansion
Back in the 1800s, this historic mansion was built for thriving local businessman Sylvester Pierce. Pierce’s wife died just weeks after moving in, and the building eventually became a boarding house known as The Victorian, which filled the property with drinking, gambling and prostitution.
The mansion has been certified as haunted by six mediums and paranormal experts, according to The Gardner News. During an episode of “Ghost Hunters” filmed at the property, it was determined that Pierce Mansion is inhabited by a trio of ghosts – a 19-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy and a resident who died in a fire.
Today, the mansion offeres guided tours on weeknights and weekend afternoons for $40 per person. For the brave of heart, Pierce Mansion also offers ghost tours and overnight stays. Tickets and scheduling can be found online.
Location: 4 W Broadway, Gardner
Turner’s Seafood
Of course, many of the state’s haunted restaurants are in Salem. One of these is Turner’s Seafood located in the historic Lyceum Hall, home to famous visitors like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau, John Quincy Adams and Alexander Graham Bell, who gave the first demonstration of the telephone in Lyceum.
However, the history of this restaurant reaches back even further. Before the grounds were Lyceum Hall, they were the site of an apple orchard belonging to Bridget Bishop, the first woman killed in the Salem Witch Trials.
Visitors report seeing a figure believed to be Bishop in windows, mirrors and staircases while wearing a long, white gown. Whenever guests in the dining room get a strong whiff of apple, it is believed that Bishop is lingering nearby.
See if you can sniff Bishop out in the main dining room from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests can request a table online, but walk-ins are welcome.
Location: 43 Church St., Salem
Spider Gates Cemetery
Spider Gates Cemetery, also known as Friends or Quaker Cemetery, lies deep in the woods of Kettle Brook Resrvoir out near Worcester. Legend says that the former entrance to the 18th century cemetery is the eighth gate to Hell, according to ghost tour company Boston Ghosts.
A 2024 report from the Worcester Telegram shares the stories of various hauntings on the cemetery grounds: a Hanging Tree haunted by someone who took their own life among its branches; a second cemetery across the street that disappears after you see it once; the river Styx running underneath a cave where a young woman was murdered; and the voice of Marmaduke Earle, who speaks to those that rest their head on his gravestne at midnight.
Location: 15 Earle St., Leicester
Wayside Inn
The oldest hotel in the entire country, The Wayside Inn dates all the way back to 1661, when John How, one of the first settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was granted a license for a house of public entertainment, or “pub,” in Marlborough, which began a multi-generation tradition of family innkeepers.
The first two-room dwelling was built in 1703, acting as the How family house until 1716, when four Sudbury selectmen granted Samuel’s son David How permission to keep a house of entertainment for travelers.
Today, the inn is believed to be haunted by former resident Jerusha Howe, who ran the inn with her brother Lyman until her death in 1842. According to Boston Ghosts, Howe died from a broken heart after the man she was supposed to marry never returned from England, and now she haunts the hotel looking for male companionship. Male guests of rooms nine and ten – Howe’s former living quarters – have reported feeling her presence or finding her at the foot of their bed in the night.
Double-occupancy rates at The Wayside range from $220-240 per night, and reservations can be booked by calling the front desk at 978-443-1776.
Location: 72 Wayside Inn Road, Sudbury
Hoosac Tunnel
Looking for a ghostly encounter without staying the night? Take a drive by the Hoosac Tunnel in the Berkshires. Running along the Deerfield River, this tunnel is believed to be haunted by the 200 deaths that happened during its 24-year construction, earning the tunnel the nickname of “the bloody pit.”
While only freight trains can drive through the tunnel, past travelers have repoted hearing voices and seeing orbs from outside, says US Ghost Adventures.
Location: Eastern portal at 239 River Road, Drury
Warren Tavern
Established in 1780, Warren Tavern is the oldest tavern in Massachusetts and one of the first buildings to be erected after Charlestown was ransacked and burned by the British in 1775. Many founding fathers visited the tavern, including Paul Revere and George Washington, whose funeral speech was given there.
The tavern is named after Dr. Joseph Warren, a major general in the Revolutionary War who sent Paul Revere on his messenger ride and lost his life in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Bar guests have reported seeing a man in a colonial wig and tights and hearing the click of Colonial-era heeled boots, leading many to believe that Dr. Warren’s spirit still resides at his namesake tavern. Another female entity, possibly a relative, has been seen hanging around the front room in Victorian clothing.
Warren Tavern is open for dining from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. Reservations are not required, but can be made by calling 617-241-8142.
Location: 2 Pleasant St., Charlestown
The Mount
The Mount, the former home of author Edith Wharton, is believed to be haunted by various spirits, according to haunted research company Haunted US. Paranormal activity may date al the way back to when Wharton was alive, as the frightened author frequently claimed she was followed by “formless horrors.”
In 1942, when the estate became the Foxhollow School for Girls, students began to complain about hearing strange noises and phantom footsteps. Visitors have also reported apparitions, both of a young house servant wandering the halls and of Wharton herself reading books.
The Mount offers ghost tours about these stories and more on select dates from July through October. Tickets, which can be bought online, cost $30 per adult or $25 per child. The estate also offers ghost tours for children and regular house tours.
Location: 2 Plunkett St., Lenox
USS Salem
Quincy is home to one of the most haunted ships in the nation, the USS Salem. Once the most powerful vessel in the United States Navy, the USS Salem treated over a thousand civilians after a powerful earthquake in Greece during August of 1953. Many of the patients suffered mortal injuries, and it is believed that they still roam the passageways of the ship alongside her many former sailors.
On select Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight, The Greater Boston Paranormal Associates offer guided paranormal investigations aboard the ship for $50 per person, which includes state-of-the-art equipment. The ship is also open for general admission self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 23.
Location: 549 South St. Pier 3, Quincy
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