The Wayside

The Wayside Inn understands that hotel guests are known to pocket things from time to time. A swiped hand towel here and there is expected, but there are a few items that the historic Sudbury inn wants back.

According to the, an amnesty program of sorts has been put into place at the Wayside Inn. Anyone who has taken something from the inn during its 300-year history is being asked to return it with no questions asked. Most notably, the hotel would like its copy of the Declaration of Independence, which was obtained by the inn’s second-ever keeper, Ezekiel Howe.

Howe was the owner of Sudbury’s sole copy of the document. It went missing in 1955 after it was saved from a fire. Along with the Declaration, the inn is searching for pewter serving utensils, and antique silverware and dishes.

“Sadly, we’ve even had some historic prints and paintings unscrewed from the walls and disappear, ” innkeeper Steve Pickford told the . The inn is forgiving its mischievous guests who’ve “secretly checked out” items as part of its tricentennial celebration, though the amnesty program will not end once celebrations do. Guests are asked to return items to the front desk or by delivery to the innkeeper at any time.