Women of Wayland - The Podcast

Halloween Special - The Haunted History Of Greenways


Listen Later

In this Halloween special of Women of Wayland, we explore the haunted history of Greenways — a sprawling estate in Wayland, MA, once home to Edwin Greene, and later to Frank and Virginia Paine. From a monkey named Simmy who lived under the stairs to a pet cemetery with heartfelt epitaphs, Greenways is a place where memory lives, love lingers, and history whispers. We also trace its connection to the Salem Witch Trials through the nearby Noyes-Parris House, bringing together ghostly echoes, personal devotion, and centuries-old legacy.

Key Themes
  • Legacy & memory
  • Animal companionship & loss
  • Haunted history vs. emotional haunting
  • Community and preservation
  • Puritan roots and witch-trial heritage
🔍 Sources & Further Reading
  1. A History of Greenways – Wayland Museum & Historical Society
    This is the primary historical reference for Greenways, including details about Edwin Farnum Greene, the Paine family, the mansion’s architecture, Simmy the monkey, and the pet cemetery.
    ↪️ Read more: Wayland Museum & Historical Society – Greenways 
  2. Noyes-Parris House – Wayland Museum & Historical Society
    This historic house (built ca. 1669) is intimately tied to Greenways and its haunted undertones. Reverend Samuel Parris — a figure in the Salem Witch Trials — lived here for years.
    ↪️ Learn about its history: Wayland Museum – Noyes-Parris House 
  3. Wayland Conservation Plan / Greenways Land
    The Greenways site is now partially protected as conservation land, managed in part by the Town of Wayland and Sudbury Valley Trustees.
    ↪️ Check out the management plan: Wayland, MA – Greenways Conservation Area
  4. Wayland Historical Society & Museum
    For broader context on Wayland’s past, its Puritan roots, and historic architecture.
    ↪️ Visit: Wayland Museum & Historical Society 
    ↪️ Local history collections via Wayland Free Public Library: Local History – Wayland Free Public Library 
🎙️ Episode Credits
  • Narrated & adapted by: Yamini Ranjan
  • Inspired by: “A History of Greenways” Presented by Retired Historical Society President Gretchen Schuler (Wayland Museum & Historical Society)
  • Historical context from: Noyes-Parris House archives and local Wayland history 
  • Conservation background from: Town of Wayland / Greenways Conservation Plan
  • Women Of Wayland Website
  • Music by Epidemic Sound and Riverside
👻 Disclaimer This story has been built upon verified historical facts and archives publicly available online, including records from the Wayland Historical Society.
However, much of the episode has been creatively imagined for storytelling and atmospheric effect.
Any resemblance to real supernatural events is purely coincidental—or perhaps… part of the mystery.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Women of Wayland - The PodcastBy Yamini Ranjan

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

57 ratings