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203-365-15 New England States - Red Lion Inn
Red Lion Inn – Stockbridge MA (sorry for the long article...it was very interesting). While living in up-state - Schoharie NY, we drove over to Country Curtains and ate at the Red Lion Inn.
Before this nation was born, some time around 1773, Silas and Anna Bingham established a general store in the western reaches of the colony of Massachusetts, in the village of Stockbridge, on the road that connected Boston to Albany. Among their earliest customers were some of Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys, who purchased goods on their way to capture Fort Ticonderoga.
The Binghams’ humble market soon evolved into a stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, under the crest of a red lion waving a green tail. It is believed that while the red lion symbolized the British Crown, the green tail indicated sympathy for the cause of independence during the Revolutionary War.
Travel at the time was difficult and uncomfortable, and the Bingham’s modest tavern soon became a popular and welcome haven for weary travelers, as well as the center of village life, where community members would gather, exchange pleasantries, discuss the issues of the time, and relax at the end of the day. Among the topics under discussion were certainly the War of Independence and the confederation of the United States of America.
Silas Bingham died in 1781, leaving Anna, called “Widow Bingham,” as the first businesswoman of Berkshire County. In the winter of 1786, Daniel Shays led a group of more than 100 local farmers and citizens in protest of burdensome post-war taxation. Stockbridge was chosen as the headquarters for what became known as “Shays’ Rebellion,” and sentinels stood guard and patrolled the streets. The Widow Bingham endured an invasion of her inn by the Shaysite rebels in 1781. The Red Lion Inn’s role in these early American events earned it a place in the history books.
At the start of the new century, the Widow Bingham’s inn had grown to eight guestrooms above the ground-floor public rooms where, on cool days, a fire always blazed in the hearth to welcome chilly travelers and townspeople alike. In 1807, the Widow Bingham sold the rustic post-and-beam inn for the sum of $10,000 to Main Street shopkeeper Silas Pepoon. To this day, Anna Bingham’s role in establishing The Red Lion Inn’s hallmark country hospitality is fondly recalled in the form of the popular Widow Bingham’s Tavern, with its convivial atmosphere and rustic, early-American ambiance.
In 1848 the Stockbridge House, as The Red Lion Inn was then known, expanded to be able to accommodate increasing numbers of guests.
Even as the Civil War raged, with the advent of the cottage era 1862 was a propitious time for the Heaton family, headed by Hiram Heaton and Charles Plumb – husband of Hiram’s sister Mert – to take ownership of Stockbridge House, beginning a dynasty that would last for the next nine decades. They undertook an ambitious expansion of the inn, adding the signature veranda overlooking Main Street in 1866, and increasing the number of guest rooms so that, by 1884, Stockbridge House could accommodate more than 100 guests.
In 1893 the management of Stockbridge House was assumed by Mr. Plumb’s nephew, Allen T. Treadway, who set about making even more enhancements to the Inn. August 31, 1896 a fire, which started in the pastry kitchen, nearly destroyed the hotel. A prompt restoration of the storied hostelry, which he renamed The Red Lion Inn. In 1916 he inherited The Red Lion Inn from his aunt, Mert Plumb.
The early 1920s brought another transformation of The Red Lion Inn’s crest: the shield was replaced with the traditional lion that we see today, plump and well fed, to indicate the high quality of food, and now sporting the familiar red tail. Allen Treadway’s son, Heaton Treadway, took over management of the Inn. In 1934, The Red Lion Inn shed its reputation as a dry establishment and began to serve liquor for the first time in 90 years, and three years later, Heaton Treadway opened The Lion’s Den.
Allen Treadway retired in 1945, having served in Congress for 33 years. He died in 1947, and his son Heaton inherited The Red Lion Inn. In 1955 Heaton sold the Red Lion Inn to Byrne Bauer, ending his family’s 90-year ownership of the establishment. Bauer undertook an extensive redecoration of the Inn and tried to keep the hostelry open year-round in the winter of 1956 – 57, a costly endeavor that ultimately resulted in the deed reverting to Heaton Treadway.
In 1960, Treadway sold the Red Lion Inn to Robert Wheeler, who remodeled the stately hostelry as a three-story “Motor Lodge” and added a swimming pool. During that tumultuous era, the Inn foundered, and by 1968 it was slated for destruction, to be replaced by a gas station
In November 1968, The Red Lion Inn was rescued by Stockbridge residents John (“Jack”) and Jane Fitzpatrick, the founders of Country Curtains.
Beginning in 1974, the Fitzpatricks purchased several neighboring buildings in the center of Stockbridge and converted them into guesthouses, including the former village firehouse – the most popular of all the accommodations at The Red Lion Inn. Over the years they continually updated and upgraded the Inn, adding modern conveniences while retaining the landmark’s historic charm.
Mr. Fitzpatrick served four terms as Massachusetts State Senator, from 1972 to 1980, and once again The Red Lion Inn became the center of political activity in Berkshire County. The Fitzpatricks played an active role in the Inn’s operation, and could often be found on the premises, enjoying the company of local and visiting patrons. Mr. Fitzpatrick passed away in July 2011. His wife, Jane, passed away in November 2013, just shy of her 90th birthday. Their daughter, Nancy Fitzpatrick, is the current owner of the Inn. Sarah Eustis, Nancy’s stepdaughter, also serves as Managing Director and offers family continuity.
Nancy, who reveres the Inn’s history and carries on the tradition of personally seeking out unique antiques, art, and other decorative items to embellish the public spaces and guest rooms while ensuring the Inn provides all the comforts and conveniences of contemporary life. Within the past decade, The Red Lion Inn has been honored for its civic-mindedness and environmentally progressive policies, as a recipient of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s National Award for Community Service; the Massachusetts Lodging Association’s Good Earthkeeping Award; and the Paul E. Tsongas Award for Preservation. National Geographic Traveler has commended The Red Lion Inn, and its sister property, The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, for a commitment to sustainability, eco-conscious practices, and support for the community.
Nancy carries on the Fitzpatrick family legacy of acquiring historically significant buildings in downtown Stockbridge to preserve and re-purpose into stylistically compatible yet distinctive lodging options, such as the Maple Glen guesthouse, which was opened in 2012. Under her stewardship, The Red Lion Inn remains a professional, family-run hotel of world-class distinction and historic significance, with a new generation of Fitzpatricks taking on greater responsibility for the management of the property.
203-365-15 New England States - Red Lion Inn
Red Lion Inn – Stockbridge MA (sorry for the long article...it was very interesting). While living in up-state - Schoharie NY, we drove over to Country Curtains and ate at the Red Lion Inn.
Before this nation was born, some time around 1773, Silas and Anna Bingham established a general store in the western reaches of the colony of Massachusetts, in the village of Stockbridge, on the road that connected Boston to Albany. Among their earliest customers were some of Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys, who purchased goods on their way to capture Fort Ticonderoga.
The Binghams’ humble market soon evolved into a stagecoach stop, tavern and inn, under the crest of a red lion waving a green tail. It is believed that while the red lion symbolized the British Crown, the green tail indicated sympathy for the cause of independence during the Revolutionary War.
Travel at the time was difficult and uncomfortable, and the Bingham’s modest tavern soon became a popular and welcome haven for weary travelers, as well as the center of village life, where community members would gather, exchange pleasantries, discuss the issues of the time, and relax at the end of the day. Among the topics under discussion were certainly the War of Independence and the confederation of the United States of America.
Silas Bingham died in 1781, leaving Anna, called “Widow Bingham,” as the first businesswoman of Berkshire County. In the winter of 1786, Daniel Shays led a group of more than 100 local farmers and citizens in protest of burdensome post-war taxation. Stockbridge was chosen as the headquarters for what became known as “Shays’ Rebellion,” and sentinels stood guard and patrolled the streets. The Widow Bingham endured an invasion of her inn by the Shaysite rebels in 1781. The Red Lion Inn’s role in these early American events earned it a place in the history books.
At the start of the new century, the Widow Bingham’s inn had grown to eight guestrooms above the ground-floor public rooms where, on cool days, a fire always blazed in the hearth to welcome chilly travelers and townspeople alike. In 1807, the Widow Bingham sold the rustic post-and-beam inn for the sum of $10,000 to Main Street shopkeeper Silas Pepoon. To this day, Anna Bingham’s role in establishing The Red Lion Inn’s hallmark country hospitality is fondly recalled in the form of the popular Widow Bingham’s Tavern, with its convivial atmosphere and rustic, early-American ambiance.
In 1848 the Stockbridge House, as The Red Lion Inn was then known, expanded to be able to accommodate increasing numbers of guests.
Even as the Civil War raged, with the advent of the cottage era 1862 was a propitious time for the Heaton family, headed by Hiram Heaton and Charles Plumb – husband of Hiram’s sister Mert – to take ownership of Stockbridge House, beginning a dynasty that would last for the next nine decades. They undertook an ambitious expansion of the inn, adding the signature veranda overlooking Main Street in 1866, and increasing the number of guest rooms so that, by 1884, Stockbridge House could accommodate more than 100 guests.
In 1893 the management of Stockbridge House was assumed by Mr. Plumb’s nephew, Allen T. Treadway, who set about making even more enhancements to the Inn. August 31, 1896 a fire, which started in the pastry kitchen, nearly destroyed the hotel. A prompt restoration of the storied hostelry, which he renamed The Red Lion Inn. In 1916 he inherited The Red Lion Inn from his aunt, Mert Plumb.
The early 1920s brought another transformation of The Red Lion Inn’s crest: the shield was replaced with the traditional lion that we see today, plump and well fed, to indicate the high quality of food, and now sporting the familiar red tail. Allen Treadway’s son, Heaton Treadway, took over management of the Inn. In 1934, The Red Lion Inn shed its reputation as a dry establishment and began to serve liquor for the first time in 90 years, and three years later, Heaton Treadway opened The Lion’s Den.
Allen Treadway retired in 1945, having served in Congress for 33 years. He died in 1947, and his son Heaton inherited The Red Lion Inn. In 1955 Heaton sold the Red Lion Inn to Byrne Bauer, ending his family’s 90-year ownership of the establishment. Bauer undertook an extensive redecoration of the Inn and tried to keep the hostelry open year-round in the winter of 1956 – 57, a costly endeavor that ultimately resulted in the deed reverting to Heaton Treadway.
In 1960, Treadway sold the Red Lion Inn to Robert Wheeler, who remodeled the stately hostelry as a three-story “Motor Lodge” and added a swimming pool. During that tumultuous era, the Inn foundered, and by 1968 it was slated for destruction, to be replaced by a gas station
In November 1968, The Red Lion Inn was rescued by Stockbridge residents John (“Jack”) and Jane Fitzpatrick, the founders of Country Curtains.
Beginning in 1974, the Fitzpatricks purchased several neighboring buildings in the center of Stockbridge and converted them into guesthouses, including the former village firehouse – the most popular of all the accommodations at The Red Lion Inn. Over the years they continually updated and upgraded the Inn, adding modern conveniences while retaining the landmark’s historic charm.
Mr. Fitzpatrick served four terms as Massachusetts State Senator, from 1972 to 1980, and once again The Red Lion Inn became the center of political activity in Berkshire County. The Fitzpatricks played an active role in the Inn’s operation, and could often be found on the premises, enjoying the company of local and visiting patrons. Mr. Fitzpatrick passed away in July 2011. His wife, Jane, passed away in November 2013, just shy of her 90th birthday. Their daughter, Nancy Fitzpatrick, is the current owner of the Inn. Sarah Eustis, Nancy’s stepdaughter, also serves as Managing Director and offers family continuity.
Nancy, who reveres the Inn’s history and carries on the tradition of personally seeking out unique antiques, art, and other decorative items to embellish the public spaces and guest rooms while ensuring the Inn provides all the comforts and conveniences of contemporary life. Within the past decade, The Red Lion Inn has been honored for its civic-mindedness and environmentally progressive policies, as a recipient of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s National Award for Community Service; the Massachusetts Lodging Association’s Good Earthkeeping Award; and the Paul E. Tsongas Award for Preservation. National Geographic Traveler has commended The Red Lion Inn, and its sister property, The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, for a commitment to sustainability, eco-conscious practices, and support for the community.
Nancy carries on the Fitzpatrick family legacy of acquiring historically significant buildings in downtown Stockbridge to preserve and re-purpose into stylistically compatible yet distinctive lodging options, such as the Maple Glen guesthouse, which was opened in 2012. Under her stewardship, The Red Lion Inn remains a professional, family-run hotel of world-class distinction and historic significance, with a new generation of Fitzpatricks taking on greater responsibility for the management of the property.