Harbor Light Inn is celebrating its 40th anniversary on June 9, marking four decades as a family-run inn and a familiar fixture on Washington Street. Owned and operated by the Conway-Pyburn family, Harbor Light has become a regular stop for visitors and a gathering place for locals, from romantic weekend getaways to those stopping in for a drink in the tavern.
While much in the hospitality industry has changed, Harbor Light has remained a steady presence in downtown Marblehead. Peter and Suzanne Conway’s vision of opening a small, 10-room boutique inn began when he purchased 58 Washington St. in 1985. After renovations, Harbor Light opened its doors on June 9, 1986. The colonial was constructed in 1728 as a private residence for Samuel Goodwin, the co-designer/builder of the Old Town House, and was enlarged in 1819 for town physician, Dr. Calvin Briggs. In 1991, when the adjacent building, 54 Washington St. became available, the Conways enlisted the help of builder David Clark who connected the two buildings. The inn doubled in size from 10 rooms to 20.
The Conways’ daughter, Carolyn Pyburn, noted that there used to be a covered driveway between the two buildings. A painting in the dining room shows the two buildings when cars used to drive through a covered driveway. After 30 years running the inn, in 2015, the Conways were ready to step back. Taking over the family reins, Pyburn assumed the role of general manager. Pyburn grew up in the hospitality business — her father owned the Carlisle House Inn on Nantucket—and later built on that experience working at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui.
Pyburn is quick to note she is building on her parents’ 30-year, strong foundation, while
adding her own touches.
“I have just slowly taken more and more off their plate. I still call my dad with maintenance questions. I’ll call him and he’ll have the answer just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers. “He knows every inch of these buildings.
Managing a staff of more than 18 year-round, Pyburn said flexibility is key to
maintaining the inn’s personalized approach to guests.
“That hands-on approach extends to the continental breakfast, with staff preparing breakfast from scratch, including homemade granola. Any one of us can bartend and serve food at the bar. We also answer the phones, take reservations and act as concierge.”
Her brother, Tyler, also pitches in behind the bar one night per week, on Thursdays, part of the family-run approach that has defined the inn for decades.
The inn is made up of traditional rooms, each with its own character, with artwork throughout, including paintings by Pyburn’s grandmother, Marilyn Bodwell. The building’s history is visible in details like the third floor, added in the early 1800s, where original spikes connecting the beams can still be seen.
“Every room is unique. Guests who book directly can choose based on color scheme or bed size, and some include fireplaces — some still wood-burning, others converted to gas,” Pyburn said. “We are the only hotel north of Boston that offers a jetted tub in the bathroom.” In addition to its guest rooms, the inn includes five furnished apartments at the Admiral’s House on Pearl Street, offering an option for longer-term stays.
While the inn welcomes guests year-round, its busiest season comes in the fall, when visitors from across the country travel to the area for Salem’s October festivities. “The majority of our travelers, during the month of October, are from outside of New England. They’re all flying in from Idaho, Kentucky, Texas and Alaska. Many add on a few nights to go leaf peeping. The rest of the year we get lots of New England guests. You’re steps away from shops and restaurants. I love showing off Marblehead to them,” said Pyburn. “A lot of our guests enjoy walking down to the State Street Landing to call for the Jordan’s Launch for a cruise around the harbor,” she added.
When film productions come to Marblehead, the inn has often hosted film crews and a handful of well-known actors, such as Tory Spelling and Rupert Friend, as well as former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, though Pyburn said most guests are visitors discovering the area for the first time.
Disney filmed “Godmothered” at the inn a few years ago. From 2017 to 2020, Van Wormer International, a German television production company, filmed on the North Shore. The crew stayed at the inn while producing movies for German television.
In addition to overnight guests, Pyburn said she has begun hosting small events at the inn, part of an effort to create more opportunities for guests and locals to gather. “On March 19 we held Mabel of Marblehead’s ‘Lucky Girl Dinner’ as well as a networking event for female creative entrepreneurs,” she said. “We’ve also hosted ‘Sip and Stitch’ nights throughout the winter drawing about 25 participants at a time.”
After 40 years, the Harbor Light Inn remains a steady presence in Marblehead, shaped
as much by its guests as by the family who runs it.
