The Inn at Shaker Mill, 10 miles from Tanglewood and from skiing at Jiminey Peak, is an unusual establishment for two reasons: its Shaker decor and its gregarious host, Ingram Paperny.
As befits a converted 1823 Shaker mill, the rooms are simply furnished in a comfortable but utilitarian style. Pegboards hang from the plaster walls, and in the Shaker tradition the common room has a barrel roof—though it also boasts a glass wall that looks out on the mill’s picturesque brook and waterfalls.
After 25 years in the business, Mr. Paperny has been called the doyen of New England innkeepers. A stay at the inn is like spending time in the home of a fascinating new friend. As might be expected of a former consultant to the United Nations, Ingram is an internationalist; he speaks four languages and relishes playing host to an eclectic bunch of visitors. During summer he brings European hiking and cultural groups to the United States, acts as their tour leader and host, and encourages them to mix with the American guests at the inn. He is also a woodworker and is responsible for all the carpentry done in the building.
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