Spending a night at Marshlands Inn feels like stepping back in time to a different era, with its walls that have stood for over 170 years. Originally constructed as a private residence, the property was later converted into a hospitality business, which still operates today. While the inn offers some modern amenities, its design retains its Victorian-style roots from the mid-1800s.

Built to last

Located in Sackville, New Brunswick, the property is believed to have been built as a private home by the Honourable William Crane as a wedding gift for his daughter, Ruth Crane Cogswell. However, according to sources of the inn’s current owner, Barry Dane, that gifted home was four doors up the road, and Cogswell built what’s now Marshlands Inn using her father’s inheritance years later. This was around 1854, and the building was originally known as Cogswell House.

Ruth and Edward Cogswell lived in the home for decades before Ruth’s passing in the 70s and it was later sold to Henry C. Read in 1895. The Read family was known for its successful stone business, and Cogswell House was one of their many private residences, which they renamed “Marshlands” after the Tantramar marshes in the area. In 1905, the family renovated the home to add a third floor and extend the home’s porch. The family lived there for another 30 years before it was converted into an inn.

Where time checked in

The Read Family’s stone business was eventually affected by the economic downturn during the Great Depression, which led them to pursue opportunities in the hospitality industry. So, in 1935, they converted their home in Sackville, N.B., into Marshlands Inn. The property offered about 11 rooms for rent, and guests were served meals in the small dining room. In 1972, the dining room was expanded to hold up to 80 people, allowing the property to host weddings, banquets and other events.

Two generations of the Read family owned and operated Marshlands Inn until it was sold in 1984. The first new owners did major renovations to convert the property’s carriage house, which was used for storage, into nine additional rooms to nearly double the inn’s capacity. The inn changed hands two times since then before Barry Dane and his wife purchased the business in June, 2000.

Dane says while they have made some small modernisations, they’ve focused on preserving the property’s history. The inn’s Victorian design and antique furnishings offer a unique guest experience. Many say it’s like staying at a museum. Guests have access to WiFi at the inn, but Dane says they’ve intentionally chosen not to fully modernise by adding amenities like TVs to each room to stay true to the property’s Victorian roots.

Still standing, still hosting

Today, Marshlands Inn continues to welcome guests from across North America and the world. Its guest list has included travellers as far as Kathmandu, as well as notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth. After celebrating 25 years of operating the inn, Dane says he and his wife are ready to pass it on to a new owner. However, when asked about his favourite part of the business, Dane commented: “The people. I’ve met a lot of very nice people over the years who are interested in learning about our heritage property and experiencing something different.”

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