Salem Cross Inn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
White Homestead-Salem Cross Inn
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	260 West Main St. (MA 9), West Brookfield, Massachusetts
Area	60 acres (24 ha)
Built	1707 (1707)
Built by	White, John
Architectural style	Colonial
NRHP reference No.	09000619; 09000093
Added to NRHP	April 14, 1975; April 14, 1978

The Salem Cross Inn is a special restaurant located on a working farm in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. It's found at 260 West Main Street, also known as Massachusetts Route 9. The restaurant is inside an old house called the White Homestead. This house was built around 1740, but it stands on the same land where an even older house from 1707 once stood. The property is so important that it has been listed twice on the National Register of Historic Places, first in 1975 and again in 1978.

Exploring the Salem Cross Inn Property

The Salem Cross Inn is part of a large, historic property that covers about 600 acres (or 243 hectares) in West Brookfield. You can find it on the south side of West Main Street. The main building is a big, connected New England farmstead. It includes a beautiful main house built in the Georgian style. Behind the main house, there are several additions, called "ells," that connect it to a barn.

The Main House: A Look Inside

The main house is a two-story building made of wood. It has a sloped roof and a chimney in the middle. The outside is covered with clapboard siding, and it sits on a strong stone foundation. Inside, many of the original features are still there. You can see the old floors, wooden details, and even parts of the original plaster on the walls. It's like stepping back in time!

The Original White Homestead

Just a short walk west of the main building, you'll find the very first White Homestead. This older house, built around 1707, has been changed into a carriage barn. It's a reminder of how long this property has been around.

A Glimpse into the Past: The White Family History

The land where the Salem Cross Inn stands has a long and interesting history. It was first given to a man named John White in 1707. John was the grandson of Peregrine White, who was born on the famous Mayflower ship. John received the land for helping the town during some conflicts with Native American groups.

Early Days and Challenges

Soon after getting the land, John White built the first homestead in 1707. Sadly, in 1710, John White was killed in an attack by Native Americans. This was one of the last such attacks to happen in that area.

Building the Main House

Years later, in 1740, John White's sons, John and Cornelius White, built the main house and barn that you see today. This shows how the family continued to live and work on the land for generations.

Notable Family Members

Over the years, other interesting people lived in the White Homestead. Two sisters, Sarah White Smith and Adeline White Tracy, were important residents. They were missionaries who traveled far from home. Sarah worked in the Oregon Country, and Adeline did religious work in Singapore. Their stories add to the rich history of the White family and this special place.