Historic Massachusetts Inn Pushes Back on DHS Social Media Post

SUDBURY (WBSM) — One of Massachusetts’ historic landmarks has taken issue with the Trump Administration using a photo of one of its buildings in a recent social media post.

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, located in Sudbury, spoke out against a post from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security put out on Sunday, April 12, that featured a photo of the Martha-Mary Chapel, part of the Wayside property.

The photo had the words “One Homeland Under God” superimposed over the image, along with a cross. The caption on the post read, “‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people who he hath chosen for his own inheritance.’ —Psalm 33:12. May God continue to shed his grace on our great nation.”

Why Wayside Inn Objected to the DHS Post

On Monday, April 13, the Wayside Inn responded.

“We have become aware of the use of a modified photograph of our Martha-Mary Chapel in a post by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” the Wayside Inn posted on Facebook. “The Wayside Inn Foundation does not authorize the use of images of our buildings for these purposes without our prior written consent. No such consent was sought or given.”

It is a frequent criticism of the Trump Administration as various departments and even President Donald Trump himself have used movie clips, photos, music and other media as part of its social media messaging. Creators of the original material have taken exception if they don’t agree with the administration’s policies.

The History Behind Longfellow’s Wayside Inn

The Wayside Inn is one of the oldest continuously operating inns in the United States, having originated as Howe’s Tavern in 1716. Its current name comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Tales of a Wayside Inn, which he wrote after a stay at the inn, which at that time was known as the Red Horse Tavern. The book featured Longfellow’s most notable poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” which begins with the famous line “Listen, my children, and you shall hear, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.”

Henry Ford’s Role in Preserving the Property

The last private owner of the inn was automaker Henry Ford, who purchased it in 1923. The following year, he purchased 300 acres of land surrounding it. He built a working grist mill and the non-denominational Martha-Mary Chapel, which he named after his mother and mother-in-law.

The chapel has been featured in films such as Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and The Unholy.

He also moved the Redstone School to the property from its original location in Sterling, Massachusetts; the one-room schoolhouse is believed by many to be the actual schoolhouse mentioned in Sarah Josepha Hale’s “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

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Today, the property has over 100 acres remaining and nine historic buildings, and is managed by the nonprofit Wayside Inn Foundation.

Strict Rules on Image Use at Wayside Inn

The foundation has a strict policy regarding the photographing of its properties, including how those photographs are used.

“The Wayside Inn Foundation does not authorize the use of any photo, video, or artwork which includes images of any of our buildings in connection with the promotion, marketing, or sale of any product, service, event, organization, or commercial, political, religious, or social activity or which implies endorsement by or association with The Wayside Inn Foundation, without the prior written agreement of The Wayside Inn Foundation,” it reads.

DHS Post Remains Online

As of this writing, the Department of Homeland Security post is still on the department’s Facebook page.