Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Massachusetts Marlborough Wayside Country Store
AO Edited

Wayside Country Store

This general store near Boston was once owned by Henry Ford, who had it relocated to a different town using a team of oxen.

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Added By
Josh Woolstenhulme
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
A postcard of the store printed circa 1930-1945   Boston Public Library/Public Domain
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
  TheDiscoveryService / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

General stores for many people invoke a sense of nostalgia and thoughts of simpler times. Indeed there is an appeal to a location that has served the community for many generations and still maintains a picturesque charm. Massachusetts is home to several such stores, but the Wayside Country Store in Marlborough is particularly unique.

Originally constructed in 1790, the building functioned not only as a general store but also as a post office and school as well. Originally located in the town of Sudbury, it was purchased by Henry Ford in 1928 and relocated to its present site near Hager Pond using oxen. In order to move such a large object, the store had to be partially disassembled and put back together once it reached its final destination. The foundation of the store was made from boulders dug from the grounds and the basement supporting pillars are huge tree trunks. The stairs leading from the cellar are hand-carved from logs and the steps are held together with wooden pegs. Ford had it arranged so that the pegs in every third step were loose, resulting in a creak when stepped on that would give notice of any burglars climbing the stairs.

The interior of the store remains mostly the same since being purchased by Ford and even today relies on a pot-bellied stove for heat. Merchandise range from pickles in a barrel, Ginger Snaps, and hundreds of other collectibles and souvenirs which draws visitors from all over New England. There are also many historical artifacts on display which makes the store also function as a small museum. Perhaps the most notable section is the Old Tyme Candy Shoppe connected directly to the store where hundreds of hand-crafted, unique, and hard-to-find candies, sweets, and delectables are located inside glass jars and shelves.

Indeed the Wayside Country Store is a very historic location that has been open to customers for over 230 years. If you're interested in taking a step back into history, enjoying a quaint shopping experience, and would like to try some delicious candy, the Wayside Country Store is the place for you.

Related Tags

Buildings Postal Henry Ford Stores

Community Contributors

Added By

TheDiscoveryService

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

October 29, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.waysidecountrystore.com/Articles.asp?ID=253
  • https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/boston/little-known-inn-near-boston/
Wayside Country Store
1015 Boston Post Rd E
Marlborough, Massachusetts, 01752
United States
42.351076, -71.487667
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Redstone Schoolhouse

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Wayside Inn

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Ford's Folly

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 541
Stories 42

Nearby Places

The Redstone Schoolhouse

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Wayside Inn

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Ford's Folly

Sudbury, Massachusetts

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Massachusetts

Massachusetts

United States

Places 541
Stories 42

Related Places

  • The entrance to Afflecks.

    Manchester, England

    Afflecks

    Over 70 independent businesses have set up shop in this former Victorian department store.

  • Lytton Springs General Store

    Dale, Texas

    Lytton Springs General Store

    Constructed in 1859 as a general store and post office, the store is still used to this day and was featured in the Walking Dead series.

  • Wood & Swink General Store and Post Office

    Evinston, Florida

    Wood and Swink General Store and Post Office

    This general store is stocked with memorabilia from the 1930s onward—almost none of it for sale.

  • Colvin Run Mill

    Great Falls, Virginia

    Colvin Run Mill and General Store

    The only surviving 19th-century water-powered mill found in the Washington, D.C. area.

  • The Old Mission General Store on a sunny day.

    Traverse City, Michigan

    Old Mission General Store

    Easily overlooked in favor of the wineries that dot the region, this blast from the past is equally worth the visit.

  • Stock up on picnic supplies with a side of history.

    Boyne City, Michigan

    Horton Bay General Store

    Ernest Hemingway used to frequent this general store, which appears in several of his short stories.

  • Peruse hundreds of antique, vintage, and locally made items at one of West Virginia’s oldest stores.

    Alderson, West Virginia

    Alderson’s Store

    You can still shop in one of West Virginia’s oldest stores.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Dallas, Texas

    Half Price Books Flagship Store

    A Texas-sized secondhand bookstore features 54,000 square feet of books, music, and media.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.