My sister chose this book for me to read, andboy am I glad she did! The Diary of an Early American Boy, written by Eric Sloane, is so unique, and makes a delightful, easy read for both children and adults. With numerous illustrations, it’s not a huge commitment for busy people 😉
The book is based on the real diary of Noah Blake, who turned 15 years old in 1805. Need perspective? Blake mentions a day of remembrance for General George Washington, who died only 6 years prior.
Throughout the book, Sloane quotes directly from the diary. In-between those excerpts, he fills in the story with conversations and elaborations. He explains all the terms and activities Noah writes about that we might not understand as 21st century readers.
A talented artist, Sloane illustrated the entire diary. The pictures make unfamiliar tools and processes understandable, and I was able to really appreciate the work that was described because of it.
I loved finding out the origins of terms and customs. For example, Sloane notes that in the word “plumb” meant “lead,” and so men who worked with lead were called “plumbers.” At first, water pipes were made from lead, so plumbers worked on them, and the name stuck (pg. 74).
I also enjoyed noticing things in my life similar to what I was reading about. At one point, Noah writes that he helped with stump-pulling. Sloane explains that oftentimes the stump’s root balls were pulled into a line to serve as a fence (pg. 29). Just down the street from me, there is a house sporting a rough fence made up of logs and root balls propped up on their sides.
Seeing the author’s commentary on the present day (already from over 50 years ago!) was thought-provoking. Sloane interjects that we’ve lost knowledge of the moon and weather because it’s no longer necessary. He encourages every child in America to plant an apple tree. And he says that being disconnected from making the things in our life easily leads to unawareness of the wonders of life, (pg. 40). This made me immediately think of my post on Cræft, which is a whole book devoted to practically the same subject!
What if society is losing something? Irrevocably discarding innately satisfying skills that have sustained us for millennia? What are we missing in our commercialized culture? Lately I have been craving a way to make “creating” a regular part of my life.
I only have a couple criticisms. 1. Sloane never gave the name of the town Noah Blake lived in! (just my own curiosity), and 2. He simplified Noah and Rachel a bit much in my opinion. It was probably in order to give answers to their questions, but Noah seemed to be portrayed as too childish for a 15 year old with a love interest.
However, those hardly detract from the whole of this wonderful book. The Diary gives a great picture of what tools, projects and relationships were like in 1805 farm life. It’s a very personal account that shows how people – just like us – lived in totally different circumstances over 200 years ago. And it gives us pause that not everything is better now – we could still stand to learn things from those in the past.
The Eric Sloane Museum was created through a partnership between the Stanley Tool Works, the State of Connecticut, and author and artist Eric Sloane (1905-1985). The museum was completed in 1969 and houses Eric’s extensive collection of early American hand tools and a re-creation of his studio.
This interesting video about Eric Sloane is featured on the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum’s website. (Skip to :30)
Connecticut’s Cultural Treasures is a new series of 50 five-minute vignettes that profiles a variety of the state’s most notable cultural resources. Connecti…
Hoofbeats pounded up the wet road lined with a small crowd in the grey dawn. Coming closer, you could hear the rider crying out, “The Regulars are coming! The Regulars are coming!” Then came the faint sounds of fifes and drums, signaling the British army was not far behind.
Last year, in Massachusetts, my sister, friend, and myself celebrated Patriots’ Day with numerous historical activities. We woke up at 3:30 am to be in Lexington for the 5:30 am reenactment of the Battle of Lexington where the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” was fired. Later we marched with the Sudbury Minutemen along the same route the original company would have taken to join the fight. With high hopes I declared I would definitely be doing it all again next year.
But a few events put a crimp in those plans. First of all, moving across the country. Secondly, being required to quarantine for two weeks on either end of traveling. So the festivities were a bit different than I had imagined, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Lexington Green, Patriots’ Day 2019
To commemorate the special day, my sister and I decided to walk the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which runs about 11 miles along the northern coastline of Anchorage, Alaska. The distance was approximately equal to the march we did with the Sudbury Minutemen last year. To note, the Sudbury Minutemen march on every April 19th early in the morning, in order to coincide with the exact date and time of the 1775 events. However, we walked on Monday the 20th, which is the official holiday of Patriots’ Day. We also left our starting line a little later than 2019’s 6:30 am.
Beginning of the Trail on the North Side of Anchorage
We arrived at the railroad depot just north of downtown Anchorage at 7:45am. Never before had we walked the entire Tony Knowles Trail from start to finish. With many access points, we had often walked short segments of the trail near significant city parks.
As we walked, we decided to wish any and all passersby a ‘Happy Patriots’ Day.’ Judging from their responses, none of them had the least idea of what we were talking about.
Patriots’ Day honors the first official battles of the American Revolution: Lexington and Concord. British soldiers marched out from Boston in the wee hours of the night, aiming to confiscate a store of ammunition located in Concord, Massachusetts. Revolutionaries spread the word of their impending arrival (the midnight ride of Paul Revere, anyone? – though Revere wasn’t the only one).
When the Redcoats reached Lexington in the early morning, a few brave souls stood on the green (common land in the center of town), defying the soldiers’ advance. A shot – to this day no one knows from which side it came– was fired. Within moments, eight colonists were dead or dying, and the British marched on.
As my sister and I marched, we paused at the planet stations placed strategically along the path. An Anchorage highschool student devised this clever “Planet Walk.” Signs representing the planets are positioned in order, radiating out from a sun sculpture in downtown Anchorage. Each intervening distance is calculated to equate to the light speed distance actually between them. Now pedestrians can stroll along at light speed. Apparently we were walking faster than light speed, because we completed the trail in just over 4 hours, instead of the predicted 5.5 hours.
The Planets I Remembered to Photograph (the Sun is Located in Downtown)
The second battle on April 19, 1775 took place in Concord. Upon their arrival, the Redcoats began burning supplies and cannons gathered by the colonists. From a hill vantage point, 400 minute men and militia saw the smoke and believed the town was being burned. They advanced on the town’s North Bridge, which was guarded by 96 British Soldiers, who fired upon them. The colonists shot back. Five fell dead and more were wounded.
But the exhausting day was nowhere near finished yet.
We stopped for a brief break at the Earthquake Park overlook point. This park is a crazy testament to the total upheaval of earth that takes place during earthquakes. Signs illustrate how the steep drop-offs and jutting hills you now see were all creating during Alaska’s 1964 Good Friday quake.
Not long afterwards, we reached Point Woronzoff, a park and beach that sits at the foot of the airport runway. We watched several planes take off directly overhead including the one videoed below. In the summer, we’ve enjoyed coming here to walk the steep path down to the muddy beach.
Plane Takes Off Over Point Woronzoff Park
The British began their march back to Boston. However, unbeknownst to them, more and more minutemen and militia from the surrounding country began to congregate around their return route. The first ambush waited one mile outside of Concord, at Meriam’s Corner. Subsequent attacks took place at Brooks Hill and the Bloody Angle in addition to other skirmishes, creating a “running 16-mile-long battle,” according to Minuteman National Park’s webpage on “Battle Site Explorations.”
Our views were a bit different from those the Redcoats and colonists traveled through 245 years ago. 🙂 In the photos you can see the infamous mudflats, with some snow still lingering on top. The day was pretty cloudy and foggy; on clear days there are mountains visible in the distance.
Views of Cook Inlet From the Trail
Later that fateful day, the British were met by reinforcements as well, but not nearly as many as the colonists. The book, Reporting the Revolution by Todd Andrlik, says that “by the end of the day, almost 3,800 militiamen had seen action against about 1,500 regulars. More than 270 British were left dead, wounded, or missing; for the Americans, only ninety-four.” Keep in mind that these Redcoat soldiers had been up all through the night!
Our destination, the 10.5 mile-marker in Kincaid Park, was met with excitement, though I’m sure not nearly as much as the British must have felt upon reaching Boston. We only took just over four hours to make our goal, but the British had already been traveling for hours when they reached Lexington at 5:30am. Then they fought all through the day.
April 19th marked the official outbreak of the American War for Independence that had been brewing for years. Many men lost their lives that day in defense of their rights. We would do well to remember what has been sacrificed by others for our benefit, and to follow their example of standing up against injustice. Here’s to next Patriots’ Day!
Our Final Mile Marker
The Tony Knowles Trail is an amazing resource, whether you’re visiting Anchorage for the first time, or have lived here for 20 years. Make sure to check out their website and take a “light speed” walk through Anchorage 🙂
The Minuteman National park has awesome online resources! Check out their website, YouTube channel, and FaceBook page for Patriots’ Day activities and more.
Annually on April 19, the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute march from Sudbury Center to the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. This event reenacts and commemorates the mission of our forefathers who did the same on April 19, 1775, at the start of the American Revolution.
Todd Andrlik is the founding editor of Journal of the American Revolution , as well as author/editor of Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News (Sourcebooks, 2012), named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Barnes & Noble and Best American Revolution Book of the Year by the New York American Revolution Round Table.
Flashback to last October, on Massachusetts’ North Shore: Ipswich, not far from the New Hampshire border, is a gem of natural and historical sites. We drove (approximately a two hour drive from Boston) with the intention of visiting the famously beautiful Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. However, when we arrived, the gate was shut. The park was closed in order to clean up trees that had fallen in a recent wind storm. But we were determined to still enjoy Ipswich, and we most certainly did.
Looking Back Towards the Beach Parking Lot
The View Along the Beach
A park employee, advised us to drive to the nearby – and apparently popular – Crane Beach. The day was sunny, windy, and bone-chilling, but the beach was magnificent. Sand dunes speckled with brush spilled toward the water, where the water thrashed in the wind. Islands and promontories were visible, and marshes spread out on our right.
If we peered closely at the hill behind us, the mansion was just visible in a clearing of the trees. So, other than opulent beauty, what makes the Crane Estate such a cool place to visit? First, there’s a wonderful beach nearby, but the Trustees (the organization in charge), list several other reasons.
Fun Fact: the Crane Estate was used for scenes of Europe in the 2019 movie, Little Women.
Look Closely – the Estate Lies on the Hill’s Left
To start, Castle Hill and Castle Neck were first owned by John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts, beginning in 1637. Two centuries later, the estate was bought by the Brown family. They added roadways and planned plantings to the property. They also renovated what was a farmhouse into the so-called “cottage.”
But in 1910, Richard T. Crane Jr. purchased the land and determined to change it dramatically. Crane was a wealthy industrialist from Chicago, who owned a company manufacturing valves, pumps, and bathroom pieces. He used his wealth extravagantly. The property was landscaped, and even included a completely-functioning farm.
The most striking of the estate’s new features was the house. At first, the Cranes built an Italian-style villa, which was finished in 1912. But they soon changed their minds, and had an English-style mansion constructed in its place! With 59-rooms, it must be impressive.
However, even though we didn’t get a chance to view this monstrous palace up close, now it’s just an excuse to go back. After our fun at Crane beach, it was time for lunch, so we drove into the downtown of Ipswich.
The Town Hall
The Visitor Center
We elected to dine at the Heart and Soul Cafe, a warm, tasty little restaurant right in the center of town. Once we had filled up on a delicious salad, pancakes, and a burger, we set out to walk around. We had passed by a tiny old bridge, visitor center, museums, and cute shops. Unfortunately, I didn’t snap a photo of the streets downtown, but you’ll have to believe me that it was a perfect example of a quaint, bustling New England town.
Everywhere there were signposts and plaques revealing the history of the town. The Visitor Center had some great signs about the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, which is huge, with a lot of places to discover. Zoom in on the photos below to see for yourself 🙂
The Choate Bridge, originally completed in 1764, and a small dam crossed over the Ipswich River, which runs right by the downtown. There was also a fish ladder nearby.
View from the Bridge
A pamphlet we picked up at the Visitor Center listed all the First Period (before 1725) Homes in Ipswich. A great idea! Though designed to be a walking guide and map, we used it to drive past a bunch of houses before we headed home. This one town has 60 First Period Homes! And there are 46 listed on the map.
We briefly walked around the John Whipple House. But it was closed at the moment, along with the Ipswich Museum, which lay right across the street. Judging from their website however, I’m sure they’d both be interesting to go inside.
A First Period Home
The Ipswich Museum
The John Whipple House
So. I most definitely would like to return to Ipswich, and I hope you’d like to go too. There’s so much more that we didn’t even get to last time. I’m sure you could make a very full day out of everything. And even if you can’t – or don’t want to – go to the Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, there’s plenty to do that is fun and doesn’t even cost a penny.
Experience the grandeur of a seaside estate and its marvelously landscaped grounds, notable for a broad, undulating lawn running down to the shore. What makes Castle Hill a special place? Centuries before becoming a grand summer estate owned by one of America’s wealthiest families, Castle Hill was well known by Native Americans, who called the area Agawam, referring to its rich fishery.
The Ipswich Museum offers an array of exciting lectures, exhibits and classes that are open to the public. Check back throughout the year for the most up to date list of events.
When was the last time you saw a rotting barn? If you live in New England, chances are it wasn’t very long ago. Last September, I had the chance to step inside six unique barns in Harvard, Massachusetts. But none of them were rotting. In fact, they were all great examples of barns that have been preserved, reused, and repurposed over the years.
The Harvard Historical Society partnered with six owners throughout the town who were willing to open their barns to the public. Planned out well, the tour was self-led, with reenactors, local businesses and artists stationed at each barn. We received a map and an information booklet in the center of town, which directed us to the various barn locations. The day was sunny and warm, perfect for walking around outside from site to site.
Atherton Barn
The Atherton Barn was a beautiful barn and contained a lot of eclectic antiques. However, for some reason, I neglected to capture a photo of the barn’s exterior.
Most of the barn that stands today was built in 1792 to replace an earlier barn. The barn was first used by the Atherton Tavern and Inn as a carriage house. Later on, it switched hands to the Congregational Church, and became the parsonage for the town minister.
Its current owner totally rebuilt the right side of the barn, adding in heat and A/C. An incredible woven staircase leads to the second floor, complete with a “coffin corner” for carrying large items upstairs.
The Woven Staircase
On the second floor is a vintage hang-out room, and a room used for the Underground Railroad! The barn houses many antiques and vintage memorabilia, including the Harvard Historical Society’s apple sorter.
For the event, Westward Orchards offered donuts and apples, and a wonderful ukulele band strummed outside.
Deacon Isaac Stone Barn
(House is in the Foreground, the Barn is Sporting Solar Panels)
“Make sure you take a look at the toilet!” That was the advice we received upon arrival at this barn. As you may have guessed from his name, former barn owner Isaac Stone was a stonecutter. Built sometime in the mid- to late- 1700s, the barn has an English structure, mainly characterized by the large doors opening on the long side. Out of its four stories, we were only able to explore two.
The main floor split into several spaces that were partitioned off. One of these was the noteworthy “two holer” toilet. The current owner is proud of the curiosity, as he has restored it over the years.
The Two Holer
The Workshop Foundation
Modern Stonecutter
Through the Hole
Through the duel openings, you have a view to the basement, and the gravestone that lies beneath (slightly sacrilegious? 😛 ). Cracked into multiple pieces, the headstone belongs to Jerome Farnsworth, who died at the age of nineteen years, nine months, and nine days. A replacement gravestone was probably made after this one cracked, and that is why this one was left in the basement.
The craftsman behind the engraving was likely Isaac Stone. Behind the barn, you can still see the foundation of Stone’s workshop. In fact, the workshop itself was still standing up until the 1950s. To commemorate the former owner’s trade, the event planners had a modern day stonecutter working in the yard. With his electric tools, he carved a piece of art over the course of the day for an auction that night.
The Great Elms Barn
This is a million dollar story – in more ways than one. Unique and expensive, the Great Elms Barn was completely disassembled from its original location and then reassembled piece by piece into its present form. And it’s huge!
For this barn, we had already had a backstory: the Harvard Historical Society had previously hosted a presentation by the owner detailing the laborious process of barn deconstruction and re-raising. Will Stevenson showed photos of the barn which had been left to deteriorate, and was now slated for demolition.
Determined to fulfill his dream of owning an old barn, Stevenson bought the barn. He and a team worked to meticulously disassemble the entire barn, labeling every piece as they went.
Once they had built a foundation on their own property, they transported the wood across town and began the process of rebuilding. To the original parts, they added a new roof and siding, along with a second cupola for ventilation. In all, the project took a full year.
Now friends and neighbors take advantage of the space in the winter to store any and every sort of recreational vehicle and equipment. The barn’s ample space can handle it all. But the darkened, vast beams, and multiple sets of coded numbering remind you that the barn has seen many other uses for a long time back.
The Turner Barn
The Front of the Turner Barn
The Turner Barn was built for cows. In 1849, Rebecca Turner recorded in her diary the dates of the barn construction and raising. She and her husband, Oliver, had purchased the farm the year prior. Their new barn reused some beams from a barn across the street, and was lined with cattle stalls.
In the photo’s bottom left, you can just see the lower-level entrance where the cows could enter the barn. Here, the stone steps are well-worn from all the traffic they received.
A benefit of the Turner’s location, for them and their cattle, was water. Underground springs flowed down Prospect Hill, where the Turners tapped into them, funneling water through the barn’s basement.
To the south, a spring house piped more water back to the house, where it was stored in copper vats and a cistern. The Turners had running water inside, and flushing toilets upstairs.
Inside, the barn was more divided than the others we saw that day, so the middle hallway was narrower. But in the separate sections, there was a woodworker, a maple sugarer, an artist, and a reenactor. So there was a lot to see, talk about, and taste. 🙂
The Sawyer Barn
I really liked how the Sawyer barn looked; its exterior was particularly picturesque, especially with its flourishing garden out back. Built in 1850, likely by Jabez Sawyer, the barn has three floors. Its unique main door has rollers on the bottom instead of the top, which was traditional.
Set on a small hill, a stone ramp – now covered in grass – leads up to the barn’s main doors. The basement lies open to the outside on the lower left side. Here, a staircase to nowhere was the barn’s claim to fame. Also back and to the right, a garden is planted, where a local beekeeper was stationed with his honey and herbs. A 1700s Sawyer farmhouse stands to its left.
The Basement
The Garden
Like the Turner Barn, this barn had a narrower middle hall, bordered by partitions. However, it was the only barn to currently house a horse, Dexter, and his stall was apparent along one wall. Long logs made up the beams, along with two that were joined together with only a dovetail. Intricate metalworked pieces by Babacool Arts hung in the hallway, and a reenactor related stories from her childhood.
The Reedich Barn
The Reedich Barn, Entrance to Upper Floor is on the Side
The Reedich Barn was given as an impressive example of what a completely modern barn can look like, and the functions it can serve in a non-agrarian society. Originally intended to store recreational vehicles, upon completion the barn was deemed too nice for that purpose. So the family opted to add in a few more homey features to create a barn-style, luxury hang-out space and work area.
The top floor included a loft, tiny kitchen, and living room. Downstairs had more of a garage feeling, with its expansive doors and workshop. An atypical garage feature, however, was the large home-brewing set-up in the corner. Also, I thought it was pretty cool that there was a hidden driveway under the grass (no more sinking into the muddy grass I guess).
The Harvard Barn-to-Barn Tour was great! Getting to see inside what would otherwise be private barns was special and interesting. The Harvard Historical Society did an excellent job involving the community in its production: gathering local artists, craftsmen, farmers, and businesses to decorate and advocate at each barn. It really felt like a community affair. The only thing that would complete the feeling of an inclusive community, would be a lower ticket price. That way, a better representation of the surrounding community can enjoy the tour. If they have it again next year, I hope you can go!
The Harvard Historical Society, located at 215 Still River Road, is committed to preserving Harvard’s past for Harvard’s future and to helping you discover your town through educational and cultural programming that connects to our history. We are a private, not-for-profit organization that relies on membership and donations to maintain our buildings and our collections…
For even more pictures, go to the Harvard Historical Society’s website.
Thanks to the 260 tour-goers, 30 volunteers, 11 artisans, 11 food vendors, 14 performers and, 12 barn owners, the Barn To Barn Tour was a fantastic success. Here are a few pictures of the great day…
Looking back from our slushy February present, Thanksgiving seems already in the distant past. However, there’s no time like the present to remember our cozy holiday feasting – and of course, the history behind it.
If you’re like most people, amidst all the turkey, family, and football, you might briefly consider the Pilgrims and their role in the holiday. You can picture them: clad in black, eating popcorn, and wearing buckles on every article of clothing. Right beside them stand a couple Natives, wearing giant, feathered headdresses. But that image is totally wrong.
There is a lot more to this determined group of people. Their story is different in many ways from the one popularized in advertising. We perhaps give them too much credit for the establishment of Thanksgiving, but their story is important .
Fast facts:
The Pilgrims liked to wear colors
Their feast was by no means the first
A 17th century feast would have looked quite different from ours
Those headdresses are from the wrong place
The Pilgrims are often portrayed in black. At that time, black was one of the most expensive dyes, because it was difficult to obtain. So it makes sense that everyday clothes wouldn’t be black. In fact, garments were many different colors – anything made from natural dyes. The colors just faded faster without the modern chemicals we have today.
And those buckles? Fifty years too early – at least. Buckles were in fashion at the end of the 17th century. So their low, leather shoes were tied with string, not buckles. Instead of buckles on their hats, they were graced with multi-colored cloth cords.
Women Baking Cheate Bread for the Week
Fun Fact: there are two correct spellings when referring to the place the Pilgrims settled. If you are referring to the modern-day town in Massachusetts, it’s “Plymouth.” If instead you mean the colony, or the museum, the spelling is “Plimoth.” This is because William Bradford, one of the Mayflower Passengers, used this spelling in his book, Of Plimoth Plantation.
Another common myth is that the Pilgrims instituted the “First Thanksgiving.” Contrary to popular belief, this sort of harvest festival had been going on for centuries. When food was gathered in, feasts were had and participants gave thanks for their bounty.
Finally, the food. We place our modern ideas of old feasts in place of the actual reality. The Wamponoags did bring deer to the feast, but you would not have found deer hanging unskinned by the fetlocks over a fire. Squash would have been present, but not in the super-sugary pie form we know today. Corn would definitely have graced the table, but likely in porridge or corn cakes. Apples, pears, and potatoes would not have been on the menu since the colonists hadn’t grown these yet and they are not native to New England.
Plimoth’s English Village
Visiting Plimoth Plantation is awesome. The museum has done an amazing job of transporting that slice of Massachusetts back in time. The Wampanoag Site is actually right against the water, and while we were visiting the interpreters were working on burning out the largest log they had ever done. They were demonstrating a traditional craft of making canoes out of a single tree. Small smoldering fires are kept burning along the top center of the log. The tree is gradually hollowed out this way, but it takes skill to ensure the wood doesn’t burn too much.
In the Craft Center at Plimoth Plantation there was a man creating traditional headdresses with ancient techniques. Unlike the ones depicted in popular drawings, these headdresses were smaller and sat on the back of the head. The giant feathered headdresses are a type that would’ve been worn by Plains Indians. Native groups in New England used porcupine quills dyed bright colors with natural dyes.
There is so much more to learn about the pilgrims! Their beliefs, goals, struggles, and mistakes are a whole other subject. But hopefully finding out about some of the common misconceptions surrounding their food and clothing makes it obvious that the pilgrims are “more than meets the eye.” 🙂
Plimoth’s website has some awesome information and opportunities! And I never want to have a Thanksgiving go by without having the Thanksgiving Primer to refer too:)
Every day we learn something new. Isn’t it time to learn something old? Learn how your family can sleep in a Pilgrim house, how kids can spend a week this summer learning about the Wampanoag, or how you can invite a Pilgrim or Native museum teacher to your classroom.
Prepared by our Research Department, this useful and interesting booklet incorporates the latest findings about the physical and spiritual world of the Pilgrims. Includes a menu and period recipes as well as an extensive section on wardrobe and appropriate 20th-century substitutions. Illustrated.
“The Thanksgiving Primer.” Plimoth Plantation Publication (1991).
Row of Historical Buildings – Oldest Tavern in America on Right
If you read last week’s post, you already have a good idea of what the Freedom Trail entails. A friend and I were whisked along by a tour guide from the Freedom Trail Foundation. We enjoyed his passionate storytelling so much, that we decided to purchase tickets for the second half of the tour.
Note: these tours are perfectly interesting as stand-alone activities! So if you’re not up for as much walking, or don’t have as much time, I would recommend the standard Walk Into History tour is a great option. (The North End Tour definitely covered less ground than the first, as the more distant Charlestown sites aren’t included.)
After a stop across from the Revere house, we walked to the Old North Church. From its steeple Robert Newman lit the two lanterns on the infamous night in April, 1775. Unfortunately, Redcoats saw those warning lanterns too. The outline of a bricked-in window is still visible where Newman supposedly escaped from on his way out of the church tower.
Statue of Paul Revere
At the base of Old North Church is a small shop where you can witness the laborious process of 18th century chocolate making. Take a peek! The cacao seeds are ground against a semi-J-shaped stone board. Eventually they yield a soft chocolaty paste that would taste absolutely horrible without sugar. And if you want, you can buy a little bag of historical chocolate, yum!
Our last stop was the Copps Hill Burying Ground. There a gravestone with bullet marks reminds you that this wasn’t always a peaceful place. Up a hill (surprise!), the burying ground is quiet and once overlooked the water, but trees and houses now block the view.
Once Thomas/Crean wrapped up the tour, we were on our own. The Freedom Trail Foundation doesn’t provide tours for the Charlestown portion of the trail since there are only two stops there. However, we were in for the long haul.
On our way over, we stumbled across a small park. In its center was a stone outline of an old structure. A signboard nearby distinguished it as the Great House/Three Cranes Tavern.
Small inset metal signs label the various parts of the house: kitchen, front door, post hole. The archaeological dig that led to its discovery was interesting. Crazy how history is everywhere – this wasn’t on the Freedom Trail.
Our next stop was the Bunker Hill Monument. But before we braved the stairs, we explored its museum. Located just across the street, this (air-conditioned) space is run by the National Park Service. It’s a great stop to learn some fun facts about the monument–a contest was even held for the design, and there are drawings of the rejected ideas.
Map of Boston: Dark Grey Indicates Man-made Land
There are two floors of exhibits. My favorite part was a map of Boston. Lit from the back, you could see which parts of the city have been filled in by humans. Pretty incredible! Boston looked totally different 250 years ago. The Boston Neck, on the left of the map, is completely nonexistent now, but made it easy to control who came and went during the occupation of Boston.
Refreshed, we started across the street after refilling our water bottle. If you get easily claustrophobic or dizzy, I don’t recommend ascending the Bunker Hill Monument. Even though there are a lot of stairs, the view at the top is totally worth it. Plus, you get to brag that you made it to the top ;P
The Bunker Hill Monument
After our climb, we walked to our final stop: the USS Constitution and museum. The famous ship, nicknamed Old Ironsides, sits in the Boston Harbor and its museum is very interactive. There were tons of unique exhibits, like building a digital battleship that is both fast and strong. The museum is especially great for groups with kids – but no less interesting for adults.
Don’t forget to actually go on the ship itself! It’s hard to imagine spending long stints of time in the low-ceilinged quarters below decks, but the craftsmanship on board is wonderful. Exploring the ship gives you a real glimpse of what it must’ve been like to live and fight on board.
Belowdecks on the USS Constitution
Note: if you’re heading home using the train system, there’s a T station within close walking distance of the USS Constitution.
I’m so glad I was able to walk the entire freedom trail! It’s a great way to see Boston and definitely can be an all day event.
Before you go, make sure you download the app! There are lots of resources to make the excursion as inexpensive as you like. The Freedom Trail should be on your bucket list whether you’re a resident or tourist: you really get to know the history of Boston through it.
Boston National Historical Park Massachusetts Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all. Plan your visit to a city with over three centuries of revolution.
The Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. Freedom Trail Sites The Freedom Trail Foundation’s most popular tour highlights the revolutionary history that took place at 11 of the 16 official Freedom Trail historic sites.
For more than 120 years, Boston’s leaders have met in this historic area of the city. It was home to Boston’s first public school attended by Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams, and it served as City Hall for 38 mayors, including John Fitzgerald and James Curley.
Founded in 1722, Christ Church in the City of Boston, known as the Old North Church, is Boston’s oldest surviving church and most visited historical site.
The USS Constitution Museum has a suggested admission of: USS Constitution (the Ship) is free to visit and requires a photo I.D. for those 18 or older. Set sail for adventure and discover the history of “Old Ironsides” – the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world – with interactive exhibits, hands-on programs, and a vast collection of artifacts that is fun for all ages.
Have you toured through your own town? There’s a surprising amount of history hidden behind the short stretch of road deemed downtown Bolton. Every year, the Bolton Historical Society gives a Main Street tour to the 3rd grade class. Not only do they desire for the next generation to learn about their home town, but they want the kids to find a connection and feel a positive association with their town center.
This year, I was bestowed with the honor of wrangling 20 or so 3rd graders on a walk around town. I studied up on the script and strove to make it informative yet interesting. Some seemed to really take it to heart; they knew their stuff. But the fact remains: I learned just as much myself reading and rereading the material :). I will impart that knowledge to you too.
I’m positive Bolton is certainly not the only town with a faithful historical society and a captivating history. So here’s your plug to pay a visit to your local historical society. With that, let us proceed to our tour.
Ironically, I forgot to snag some photos, so I will have to add those later.
Bolton’s Main Street existed way before the town itself
One general store operated for 150 years
Dr. Everett was a doctor, photographer, post master, and phone operator.
The Great Road and Pond Park
Route 117, Main Street, the Great Road, they’re all names for the same river of pavement that flows through downtown Bolton. As with most things though, it has changed quite a bit over the years–and there have been many.
Contrary to what you might think, the very early European colonists did not bush wack their way through the wilderness. Using common sense, they traveled along the paths that they Native Americans had already established.
This particular trail was called the Bay Path because the inland natives would use it to travel out to the bay for trade and fishing. When the colonists began to use it, the path was widened and extended. As the Great Road, it served many purposes. Animals of all sorts trod down it: cows, geese, turkeys. On April 19th, 1775, about 700 soldiers marched along its length on their way to Concord.
The road broadened again with the advent of stagecoaches. A local innkeeper, Amory Holman, owned a stagecoach company, bringing visitors and commerce to Bolton.
Another area of commerce for Bolton was its mill district. Present-day Pond Park marks the location of several mills, all powered by the Great Brook. After multiple buildings burned, the Village Improvement Society came together to fund a park. One of those members was Emerson.
Emerson also donated land and money for the town to build a single, larger school for its children. Prior to the Emerson School, Bolton educated its children in several one-room, district schoolhouses that were relocated depended on the number of students in an area. Finally, the town decided to establish three of these district schools on the present location of Emerson School, requiring children to come to them instead of the other way around.
One former student later recalled the duty of hauling buckets of water. Still visible today is the ring forming the well’s lip.
First Meetinghouse and the Old Brick Store
As we walk down the road, strung out along the thin sidewalks, we pass several old homes. Coated in salmon hues, the oldest dates from the 1760’s; its builder served in the American Revolution. At the intersection with Wattaquodock Road sit a Wheeler house. Caleb and Dolly Wheeler moved in soon after their wedding in ____. Later on, they commissioned famed stenciler Moses Eaton to decorate their walls. You can still see his patriotic eagles, pine trees, and flowers.
We crossed the street to stand before what the kids thought was a gravestone. However, the marker actually commemorates the approximate location of the first meetinghouse. -1st mtghouse and its various locations and burnings
Up the road you can just see a red sign advertising for an insurance company. This is the site of Amory Holman’s tavern: the man with the stagecoach company. Several of the houses nearby were converted from harness buildings, a blacksmith shop, and other components of his business.
Backtracking to the intersection, I point out the long red building facing the Great Road. This was the Crackerbarrel, or the Old Brick Store. Featuring all kinds of mercantile, from bottles and brushes, to food and cloth, the store saw over 150 years of business. If they didn’t have what you wanted, it could be ordered from Boston or Worcester, arriving in as little as two days.
Baptist Meetinghouse and Town Pound
How many times can you recycle a building? The First Baptist Meetinghouse has certainly seen quite a few uses. Though it was first constructed as the Baptist meetinghouse, the congregation outgrew it and moved down the street. Its other lives included a schoolhouse, storage for the town hearse, then Bolton quickstep (an early version of a fire engine), and Cemetery Commission. Now, Parks and Recreation uses the building for storage.
For the actual 3rd grader walk, we didn’t go to see it, but I motioned in the direction of the town pound remnants. Made for the purpose of corralling stray animals, a decrepit ring of stones remains. If someone’s pig or cow got loose, the animal would be put in the town pound so that no damage to crops or gardens would be caused. Upon the owner’s arrival, they would be fined to discourage further escapees.
Dr. Everett’s House, Barn, and Store
On the left is the house of Doctor Oliver Everett, a very versatile man. Though a doctor by training, Bolton’s small population wasn’t ill quite enough to make ends meet. So he became the local postmaster. His store (on the far right), boasted his doctor’s office upstairs and the post office downstairs.
Fun fact: a trap door was set in the floor over the Great Brook, which ran under the barn. To keep cleaning easy, the rakings from the barn floor were swept out into the stream.
One of Everett’s passions was photography. His photos are an amazing resource for the historical society today. Back then, Everett sold postcards with his images in the store.
Of great interest to the kids is Dr. Everett’s soda fountain, installed when the drink first became wildly popular. Everett’s store also boasted the first phone in town.
Wrong-Way House and the Church
Take note as you walk along the road and you might notice a house that appears to have two fronts. Dubbed wrong-way houses, there are several in Bolton. This particular one was originally situated to face the Town House Road and the First Parish Church. Once Route 117 became the main byway, the owners wanted their fancy front visible to all. So the first entrance is now mostly overgrown.
Sitting atop the hill is the First Parish Church, formerly the Federated Church. When multiple congregations in Bolton became too small to necessitate their own structures, they combined into the Federated Church.
We tromped upstairs to each be allowed a chance to ring the large bell hanging in the church tower. Feeling the ease and tug of the rope, and listening the outside clanging was very satisfying. I think the 3rd graders would agree.
Our tour continuing with a crawl up into the clock tower. Careful not to bump our heads, we emerged into a small area with high ceilings. A clock movement was mounted inside, and our specialty tour guide demonstrated some of its workings. Though currently out of use, there are plans to restore it in the future.
As they left, some 3rd graders stopped to ask questions, wondering where they could find more of this. Happily, we informed them that they were welcome to visit the historical society anytime. The walk is a splendid way to teach kids about their community; it gives them the stories and the significance behind what they see everyday.
Learning the history behind a landscape – human or natural – can completely change the way you view it. If we want the kids of today to care about what happens to history in the future, we need to plant the seeds now. The Bolton Historical Society is doing their part 🙂
Okay, okay, just one more post about Patriot’s Day. Then we can move on to something new. There are just so many interesting things that happened because of Patriot’s Day.
Minutemen companies marched long distances to reach Concord
Some reeenactors commemorate those marches each year
Last summer, I had the idea to walk along the British Regular’s route from Charlestown to Concord. First of all, my grandma was incredulous: you can’t just up and walk 18 miles she said. However, the weekend we planned to do it didn’t work out, and I was left thinking to do it sometime in the future. I did ask around if anyone already did that, and the answer seemed to be no.
But I did find the Sudbury Minutemen, who march every April 19th along the route that a Sudbury company took as a commemoration. The public is welcome to join them, although there ended up being only one other person in “civilian clothing.”
Sudbury Center at 6 am
As I said, this is a march of the Sudbury Minutemen, and there is a difference between minutemen and militia. Participation in the militia was required, being a minuteman was voluntary. Minutemen were called to be ready at “a moment’s notice,” more like half an hour, but still faster than the militia.
All in all, the march from Sudbury center to the North Bridge is approximately 10 miles. The way we perceive distances now is not the same way they did then. In a car, getting from one place to another is no great hurdle. You hop in, and might arrive 15-25 minutes later, fresh as a daisy. Or at least as fresh as you started.
In contrast, a 10 mile trip was a commitment. We left Sudbury at 6:15 in the morning. Some folks had already walked from Wayland (previously part of Sudbury) starting at 4 am.
Salute in a Cemetary
Town Line of Concord
A few of the reenactors have been marching annually for over 50 years. One of them introduced himself to us. Bob was 90 years old! Though he didn’t walk the whole route this year, let’s just say there were a lot of people who didn’t walk it at all.
Along the way, militiamen loaded and shot their muskets willy-nilly. However, there are different blackpowder rules in Sudbury and Concord. So when we reached the Sudbury town line, the men lined up to use up the rest of their gunpowder: Concord doesn’t allow random musket shooting.
Spectators waited along our route to hail the minutemen as we passed by. When marching in step, it really was a thrilling sight. Fifers and drummers played the entire time, lending the whole thing an official air. A couple kids stood at their driveway banging on their own drums while we marched past.
Break at Barrett’s Farm
Waiting for the Train
Quick fun fact: our hired police escort closed down the Route 2 rotary in Concord for us to cross! Those in Massachusetts know this is no easy feat, and at rush hour, no less.
After 5 hours of walking, I didn’t exactly feel at my peak physical ability. Though the minutemen were likely in better shape, I can’t imagine they were feeling spritely upon arrival either. I’m sure they were fueled by adrenaline as they anticipated meeting the Regulars, which surely helped. Can you imagine how long the march would’ve seemed? Not knowing what awaited you at the end? Walking in their footsteps (literally!) gave me a new insight into what that day was like for the colonists.
I must also comment on the friendliness of the group: we were the “new recruits.” Multiple people told us we were welcome to share in their food at the rest stops. Reenactors had us step into line with them, and we were encouraged to come back next year.
If you have the chance, by all means march with the Sudbury Minutemen next year. What an experience! Dress up only if you can/want to. The pace is steady; I was never out of breath, and there are cars to hop in if you need a break. Mark your calendars for April 19th (they stick with the actual date, not the state holiday). But whatever you do, don’t march behind the musicians 😉
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute preserve American heritage and educate the public through reenactments, performances, speaker events, a monthly muster, a Colonial Faire, parades, and other educational, fun events.
Between the getting up early for the bike ride, then the Sudbury Minutemen March, holidays, TeenPact, and the play I’ve had hardly enough sleep to actually write about what I’ve been doing. So I apologize for the sporadic (more like completely absent) posts of late. I really want to be more regular about posting every Tuesday. Hang with me there 😉
Back to business then. Now you know all about the Patriots’ Day reenactment itself, but do you know about the history surrounding the event? I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” But I think we should dig a bit deeper than that. Especially since the first of those two is quite a bit misleading.
Paul Revere didn’t make it all the way to Concord
The Regulars marched all the way back in the same day
First of all, you should know that there are happenings all throughout the month of April commemorating April 1775. I headed to Minuteman National Historical Park for my information, but other towns along the route host their own celebrations. The Saturday before Patriots’ Day was particularly crammed with functions.
Once I got some family members to come along, we left for Lexington towards the end of the day’s festivities. Our first stop was at Whittemore House, just behind the Visitors’ Center. This building is not open very often, so I was excited to have a chance to peek inside.
However, it was a bit anticlimactic. By the time we arrived, all the reenactors had left. Inside, there were plaques mentioning important details about the house, and a few activities. I enjoyed looking through the recipe cards, and the daily tasks blocks.
Whittemore House
12 Year Old Girl’s Jobs
Inside of the Walls
A Man’s Tasks
Fireplace with Ash Chute in Corner
After we explored, we drove back towards Concord to stop in at the Hartwell Tavern. Unlike Whittemore House, the Tavern will be open for the summer season on June 22nd.
In between these two buildings is the site of Paul Revere’s capture. Though the famous rider brought his warning to Lexington, he wasn’t able to evade the Regulars on his way to Concord. Fortunately, William Dawes got away, along with Samuel Prescott who dashed the message onwards.
Dawes is often forgotten, but he rode out from Boston as well. Revere was sent across the river, while Dawes bluffed his way by the guard at the Boston Neck. Prescott joined them just outside of Lexington, and he was the only one to actually bring the news to Concord. Dawes lost his horse, and Prescott arrived first, setting the alarm bell clanging.
At the Hartwell Tavern parking lot, the trail leading to the building is to the left. Once you pass the restrooms, the tavern is at the “T” in the trail.
When we arrived, the tavern was surrounded by reenactors, which looked very cool. They had gathered for a afterparty at the end of a long day, but visitors were still welcome for a little while longer.
I definitely want to go back to the tavern, maybe go on a tour. One room was full of women spinning yarn, another was a bedchamber, and the largest had a bar and table. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to stay long.
On Sunday, my sister, our friend, and I drove back out to see the Col. James Barrett’s Farm. The Regulars were lining up when we got there. In formation, they marched off down the road. We hopped back in the car, and followed them. Once we passed them, we parked, watched as they passed by. They were headed to the North Bridge, and so were we.
At the North Bridge Visitors’ Center, we saw a plank believed to be from the original North Bridge. There’s an exhibit with full size 18th century military regalia, a 3-D map of the battles of April 19th, 1775, and a short movie on the same. Of course, there’s also a gift shop.
After walking down to the North Bridge itself, we headed home. By the way, if you don’t want to walk as far, you can circle around from the visitor’s center to another parking lot. The path is significantly shorter.
The North Bridge was the last stop for some of the Regulars on that fateful day. Most of the soldiers stayed in Concord, but about 200 continued on. 100 were left at the bridge, and the rest marched on to Barrett’s Farm. They searched the house; the only person inside was a 65 year old woman.
From their perch on a hill, the gathered minutemen saw smoke rising from Concord. In actuality, it originated from the Regulars putting water on any fires, but the colonists thought the town was burning. So they descended upon the bridge.
Once the British soldiers were repulsed at North Bridge, a rout taking them all the way back to Boston began. Throughout the day, more and more minutemen and militia from surrounding towns arrived — there were even some from New Hampshire. I can’t help but think of the poor Regulars. Up in the wee hours, they marched for 6 hours, were shot at twice, then retreated to Boston amidst a rain of bullets.
Take a look at this Battle Road Trail Map! (Just a small section of their route.)
Vehicle Navigation Systems and GPS units may provide inaccurate information. This can send drivers the wrong way on roads to sites which never had actual assigned addresses (such as former farm fields and swamps), leading them to dead ends or areas prohibited to the public, or sending them on roads which are not for vehicle use.
Hey everyone! I know this is different from what I usually post, but I wanted to let you all know about an upcoming event.
My very own Bolton Historical Society is putting on a small play next Sunday, May 19th, at 3pm. The play covers the 10 years leading up to the Revolutionary War, even using direct quotes from the people of Bolton.
As part of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area’s Hidden Treasures program, we can be found in their brochure and website as well.
We’ll be holding the event in the barn, but the house will be open for visitors, and there will be refreshments afterwards.
I hope to see you there, and please enjoy other Hidden Treasures programs too!
