About
History
In the early 1700s, John White was granted a large parcel of land in what is now West Brookfield, Massachusetts. This 600-acre farm stayed in the White family for eight generations before being purchased by Henry Salem in 1950. He and his brother, Dick, worked tirelessly to restore the historic homestead, opening its doors in 1961 as what is now known and loved as Salem Cross Inn.
The name “Salem Cross” is a blend of heritage and folklore. It honors the Salem family name, and references a hexmark etched into the front door handle of the main house. Known as a “cross-mark,” this symbol was believed in the 1700s to ward off “ye evills of witchcraft and diverse other manifestations of devilltry”—a nod to New England’s storied past.
Today, the original home stands as one of the finest surviving examples of early American architecture. Visitors will find wide board pine floors, handcrafted moldings, oyster shell plaster walls, and grand fireplaces throughout. Each room is thoughtfully decorated with colonial artifacts, ceramics, fine furniture, and rare collectibles.
Perhaps most unique of all is the 17th-century roasting jack, located at the fieldstone hearth in the Chestnut Room. This remarkable piece of culinary history is the only known operating roasting jack of its kind in public use in the United States—and it’s still used at the Inn to roast mouthwatering prime rib.
