01/22/2024
The captivating history of The Wilderness Inn in North Woodstock unfolds over more than a century, dating back to its construction in 1912. Originally built as a private residence for J. R. (Jesse Russell) Matson at a cost of approximately $10,000, Matson resided in the home for about six years before facing financial challenges that led to bankruptcy. Subsequently, the property was sold by the sheriff's department in 1918.
Transitioning to the 1920s, the property reappears in records under new ownership with Edward and Dora B. Kane. They transformed the residence into Kisnop Lodge, where Dora served as the hostess, and Edward, employed by the railroad, contributed to its operation.
In 1930, the property underwent another transformation when Phillip and Elizabeth Lowden, proprietors of the local IGA, took ownership. They converted the home and its surroundings back into a private residence, a status it maintained for the following 39 years.
The narrative takes an exciting turn in 1969 when Richard and Helen Learned assumed ownership and reopened the establishment as the Red Fox Inn. Over the years, the property changed hands in 1974 (Carol Frost and Pierce Barker) and again in 1986 (Thomas Saccardo and Mary Daly). It eventually settled into a 28-year tenure as the Wilderness Inn under the dedicated stewardship of Michael and Rosanna Yarnell. In 2015, the current owners, Alan and Karen Trudell, took possession and have since continued the tradition, running the establishment as a genuine Bed and Breakfast.
NOTE #1: This past November, Carol Lowden put us on the hunt for information about the Kisnop Lodge. She had a memory of seeing a "Kisnob Lodge" sign in her father's garage, but didn't know much else about it. One of our board members, Mike Conn, forwarded us this postcard confirming its existence. Upon sharing the little information we had, Carol responded: "I am quite flabbergasted and pleased that you found further confirmation of the Kisnop Lodge's existence. (I had thought it was Kisnob, but was a youngster). Probably the sign was tossed out by Dad in a cleaning moment, as I didn't recall seeing it later. But if not, perhaps Michael or Rosanna would have seen it. It was made of wood, largish, painted."
NOTE #2: Karen Trudell recently shared a treasure trove of information about the history of the property, which we are still combing through. Beyond excited to share all of this information on our website!
