Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school one day, which was against the rules.
It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school.
Everyone knows this famous rhyme, but few people have visited the place that inspired it. The Redstone Schoolhouse in Sudbury is said to be the very schoolhouse mentioned in the nursery rhyme and it’s an absolutely charming place to visit.
The Wayside Inn “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of the most recognizable nursery rhymes in the English language, and the schoolyard song has its origins in Massachusetts.
The rhyme was penned by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830 was inspired by an actual incident. A local girl in Sterling by the name of Mary Sawyer was known to keep a pet lamb. Her brother urged her to take the lamb to school one day and the ensuing commotion delighted visiting minister John Roulstone. He recounted the incident to Hale who was herself a schoolteacher at the time.
Flickr/mgstanton The schoolhouse was originally located in Sterling. However, Henry Ford had the entire structure moved to the grounds of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury in 1927.
Wikimedia Commons/Dudesleeper
Today the schoolhouse is open for tours from mid May through mid October on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pop by between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to be guided through the schoolhouse and learn about schooling traditions in rural New England from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Wayside Inn
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of the most recognizable nursery rhymes in the English language, and the schoolyard song has its origins in Massachusetts.
The rhyme was penned by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830 was inspired by an actual incident. A local girl in Sterling by the name of Mary Sawyer was known to keep a pet lamb. Her brother urged her to take the lamb to school one day and the ensuing commotion delighted visiting minister John Roulstone. He recounted the incident to Hale who was herself a schoolteacher at the time.
Flickr/mgstanton
The schoolhouse was originally located in Sterling. However, Henry Ford had the entire structure moved to the grounds of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury in 1927.
Wikimedia Commons/Dudesleeper
The building isn’t heated so calling ahead on particularly chilly days is advised. After you’ve toured the school, head over to the Wayside Inn to warm up by the fire and enjoy a cup of hot cider.
For more awesome Massachusetts attractions, check out this list of hidden spots only locals know about.
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