Tales of the Wayside Inn Chapter
On the occasion of the Fortieth Birthday Dinner of the Wayside Inn Chapter, DAR,
held at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Massachusetts, December 29, 1944.
My story begins in the days of yore,
Twenty-ninth of December, nineteen four.
To a church in Wayland some ladies came
To answer the question “What’s in a name?”
They’d searched their files to the Revolution
For deeds of ancestors---not Lilliputian---
And now were ready with many a “bar”
To form a branch of the D.A. R.
With plenty of fervor, (no champagne nor gin)
They christened the Chapter the “Wayside Inn”.
In officer choosing, without any risk,
They elected as Regent Mrs. Nellie Rice Fiske.
As Regent she served for thirty full years
While membership more than doubled, my dears.
Twenty-six were present that day in December
And each one became a real Charter Member.
Now forty years later just four of that fold
‘Neath the banner of Wayside Inn are enrolled.
We’ll take a quick glance at each of the four
And then of the Chapter will tell you some more.
Now should you take time to read all of our hist’ry
You’d think you’d discovered a D.A.R. mystery.
For how could one person continue the chore
For thirty and six lengthy years or more
Of recording the details of every meeting
And faithfully do it without any cheating?
For every report so legibly penned
Has “Emma D. Wellington” signed at the end.
And yet it is true without reason of rhyme
She never was absent for all of that time.
And that is some record as you will agree,
So let’s give three cheers for our own Emma D!
The next of the four we place in a row
Is Lydia Rice Morse---Vice-Regent you know.
She moved from the state and when she returned
Her love for the Wayside Inn Chapter still burned.
With varied performance her record is scored,---
On program committees, on management board,
Committees for markers, as Registrar twice,
And three years as Regent was Lydia Rice.
Next Isadore Rogers,---Mrs. Belyea to you—
The third of the four to pass in review.
Committee for this, committee for that
Till she moved to a new place and hung up her hat.
The last one, the writer, the best she can boast
Is serving as Registrar, for two years at the most.
She now may be driving you all to a frenzy
This fourth Charter Member,---Louisa McKenzie.
What work has the Chapter done as a whole
That’s worthy to write on our history scroll?
Of course we’ve made records and stored them away
Of historic events of an earlier day.
And we have placed markers on many a spot
Lest deeds of our forefathers might be forgot,--
Their work and their troubles which helped the creation
In this mighty land of this mighty nation.
The Garrison Houses of Parmenter and of Haynes,
The sacred spot on the river plains
By the FourArchBridge where Concord men died,
Killed by the Redskins as they gallantly tried
To help Sudbury settlers,--to no avail—
One only escaping to tell the sad tale;
The Training Field; The Old Sudbury Pound
In which were tethered stray beasts that were found;
We’ve marked many graves without counting the number
Where valiant ancestors peacefully slumber.
Lots more we have done for the future to see.
We’ve even a Sesquicentennial Tree!
Not all of our meetings had serious intent.
To many we’ve gone on pure pleasure bent.
We’ve picnicked in many a neighboring town,---
The list is too long for me to set down.
We’ve given receptions, we’ve listened to talks,
We’ve loitered in gardens with flower-bordered walks.
But the gayest of Birthday Dinners have been
Under the rafters of the Wayside Inn.
We reach there quickly by gasoline ways
But horses were slower in earlier days.
At South Sudbury Station we’d gather by train,
By carriage, by walking in sun, snow or rain
Then into the old school barge we would climb-
Reaching the Wayside after a time.
And Marian Longfellow sometimes was there
The fun of our dinner and program to share.
An Honorary Memberof the Chapter was she
And nothing could more appropriate be
Since poems of her father gave lasting fame
To the Inn which furnished our Chapter name.
We’ve had many dinners, but who can recall
When those at Head Table were envied by all?
‘Twas not for their jewels and not for their clothes
Nor official position as one might suppose,
But because they had courage as the chicken was tough
To take it in fingers and so get enough.
No record was made of this infamous deed;
It would not look well for the children to read!
Attending the meeting that early December
Were three generations as you may remember
Their number was five—a grandmother fine
Her daughter and three granddaughters in line.
A year or two later the number increases,--
Two sisters, two grand-d’s and two grand-nieces.
Our Real Grand-Daughters no honor could claim
Forty years ago. Now proudly we name
The Clark sisters three and Mrs. James Draper,
Mrs. Robert Davis who joined us later.
Now come to the present and take a good look
At the hundred nine names on our Registrar’s book.
This forty years total is a very good score
Though present enrollment is just thirty-four.
For all our Real Grand-D’s have gone
And younger members have also passed on.
Some, moving away, had their papers transferred
But others to stay in Chapter preferred.
Our Fortieth Year Book has pages that give
Twenty cities and towns where our members now live.
What holds us together so year after year?
Is it mem’ries of childhood to all of us dear
Or the lure of the Inn with its tales oft retold?
Or are friendlier folks in the membership fold?
Though our homes are different and miles apart
A mysterious something in everyone’s heart
Keeps us all loyal, whether near or far,
To the Wayside Inn Chapter of the D. A. R.
Louisa Sanders McKenzie
Newtown, Connecticut
Addendum to
TALES OF THE WAYSIDE INN CHAPTER
-by Louisa Sanders McKenzie
Now add to this poem another 55 years-
We’re 95 this month, my dears.
Many Daughters have come and gone
But Wayside Inn Chapter remains steady and strong.
To all future regents and present and past
Memories of Nellie Rice Fiske will always last.
No matter where we may roam
On land or sea or foam
Our hearts remain loyal, whether near or far
To the Wayside Inn Chapter, DAR.
Beverley Sanborn Minot
December 4,1999