Henry Ellis Warren (May 21, 1872 – September 21, 1957) was an American inventor best known for creating the first synchronous electric clock in 1918. This groundbreaking invention kept time using the oscillations of the power grid. Warren was credited with 134 other inventions, earning him the title “the father of electric time.”
In 1912, he founded the Warren Telechron Company, which sold 20 million clocks between 1916 and 1926. Telechron clocks remained popular into the 1950s. In 1940, he introduced the “singing clock,” which used a vibrating metal string instead of a pendulum. The company was later acquired by General Electric in 1943.
Warren was born in Boston and attended the Allen School. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1894 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
After Warren’s passing in 1957, his widow, Edith Smith Warren, continued their legacy of giving. She donated 40 acres of their Ashland, Massachusetts farm to Northeastern University. This land became the Warren Center for Physical Education and Recreation and hosted Camp Henry Warren, an overnight summer camp for handicapped and underprivileged children, as well as children of Northeastern University staff. The camp received support from organizations such as the YMCA and the Boy’s Club of Boston.
In 1964, the Charles Hayden Foundation contributed $100,000 to improve the center’s infrastructure, including roads, service buildings, a parking area, a small beach, and playing fields. The camp later became known as Camp Narepadee and then Camp Nor’easter. In 1965, a day camp was launched in partnership with the Roxbury Work and Study Project.
At the Warren Center’s dedication in 1967, the Warren Benevolent Society, founded by Edith, donated an additional 104 acres to Northeastern University. The Charles Hayden Foundation provided another $400,000 for the construction of a central lodge, cottages, and additional playing fields. The Warren Center was operated by the Boston-Bouvé College of Northeastern University, where physical education students trained. The facility was also rented to various organizations, including the Golden Age Club, Campfire Girls, church groups, and local fire departments.
The land that now houses the Warren Conference Center and Inn was once a working farm. In 1907, Henry Warren rented half of a farmhouse on the property with his wife, Edith Smith Warren. They later purchased the house and expanded their land holdings to 175 acres, which became known as “Upland Farm.”
Following Henry’s death in 1957, Edith’s donations helped shape the property into a recreation and education center. In 1992, The Warren Center transitioned from a summer camp into The Warren Conference Center, serving as a meeting space for the business sector. In 1995, The Warren House was renovated to add more space, including the Telechron and Maple Rooms. In 1997, the former camp infirmary was converted into The Northern Lodge, offering private overnight guest suites. This building is now the home of Henry’s Place, our on-site cafe and bar.
Over the years, the Warren Conference Center and Inn has continued to grow. The Main Lodge, designed like an alpine ski lodge, features an expanded dining area and meeting rooms. The Inn, built near the waterfront, includes 49 private guestrooms, two state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and a health club facility.
Today, Warren Conference Center and Inn is a premier location for meetings, trainings, and gatherings, preserving the legacy of Henry and Edith Warren while serving New England and beyond. Visitors to 529 Chestnut Street in Ashland, Massachusetts, can experience a modern conference center surrounded by a rich history.
