History of The Sun Tavern

The front part of the Sun Tavern was built in 1741. At the end of the nineteenth century it was owned by Lysander Walker who gained dubious fame when his story was published in the October 21, 1928 issue of the Boston Herald in an article titled "Last Duxbury Hermit".

After the death of his wife, Lysander removed himself from the outside world preferring to live with his memories of bygone days. Friends and neighbors did what they could for him, supplying vegetables from their gardens and milk from their cows. He always flew the American flag outside his door each morning and if anything was needed, he hung a white cloth out of a corner window. His neighbors worried about him, but that was the way it was until one morning Gladys Belknap Huff's sister, then age 11, on her way to school noticed that the flag had been turned upside down. She thought that was odd so decided to go in and tell her old friend that he had made a mistake. At first she thought he was asleep but then, horrified, she noticed the smoking revolver still clutched in his hand. Lysander had signaled one last time in a way which would never be forgotten.

After Walker's death Father Francis Keagan purchased the property for his summer residence. He befriended Mary Hackett and financed her education at Salem State Normal School. In the early 1930's he suggested she take over his house and run it as a restaurant. This small eating place was very successful. It was situated in the heart of Cranberry plantations and was famous for its quaintness, beautiful flowers and delightful meals. See the original menu.

David Wells bought Mary Hackett's in 1964, changed the name to Fiddler's Green Restaurant to convey the feeling an English pub. David also put the house on the map for he claimed it was habited by the ghost of Lysander Walker, who had a few tricks up his sleeve at that! Each night when the restaurant was being closed down and every candle extinguished on the tables, just one would be relit as David, the last to leave, was about to walk out the door. Of course David was teased about his infamous ghost. Late one night the alarm went off and the police arrived to investigate. After checking the entire building and finding nothing, they closed the door and staffed up the path. Suddenly, each officer heard footsteps in the restaurant. With guns drawn they entered the house but found no one. Never again was David ridiculed about his ghost!

In January of 1987 the restaurant was named The Sun Tavern as it remains today.

In September of 2007 John and Laurie Cowden purchased the Sun Tavern. Both have been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, most recently operating the Jared Coffin House on Nantucket. Laurie and John operate the business together with their two children Teddi and Parker. They reside in Duxbury.