History in Concord, Mass.
Aug 2nd, 2010, 12:44 PM
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History in Concord, Mass.
As I am documenting journeys in and around Boston as a new resident/explorer I want to include a full description of a trip to Concord, actually two trips. The first was earlier to hear a band concert at Old North Bridge but more to tour the Old Manse nearby. This is one of a number of preserved residences of historic figures in the Concord area. In this case Ralph Waldo Emerson's preacher father owned the property. R.W. let his friend stay for awhile but finally kicked him out because he didn't pay his rent and didn't take care of the place. Preserved are some original writings and also family furnishings. It was a gathering place for intellectuals and Henry David Thoreau was a gardner for while. www.theoldmanse.org
But last Saturday in Concord marked the 300th anniversary of he birth of Col. James Barrett. Special events were held at the farmhouse which is being restored. Various people were in Colonial era clothes with some music. Principally there was a reenactment of the search by British Regulars for armament. The Colonel was not at home and the cannon had been hidden elsewhere. Mrs. Barrett indignately met the soldiers at the door and objected to their entry. But the troops conducted a search as ordered, one scattering bed feathers until another told him he looked silly (actually there was some munition hidden further down).
Mrs. Barrett served the officers cider but not stronger ale. She said it was her Christian duty. Several units were left to guard the bridge. The minutemen from the surrounding area gathered to face the Red Coats who by the way had a skirmish with wounded men passing through Lexington that morning. The farmers from all over had been forewarned of the English march into the countryside to capture armments. Sixty four old Barrett had reluctantly accepted command of the militia which had purged some thought to be Loyalists. So on that day April 9, 1775, there was the Battle of Concord with casualties on both sides.
The British contingent retreated back to Boston and were fired upon along the way with casualties. Not long thereafter came the Battle of Bunker Hill when the Colonists outflanked the British and forced the evacuation of Boston. At the Barrett farm on Saturday we heard a talk by John L. Bell who has a very informative blog about many Revolutionary War matters. See www.boston1775.com. Did you know why the British uniforms were red? It had nothing to do with style. It was because in those days the musket fire raised a great deal of smoke and the red uniforms provided a means of identifying where the troops were in the line. Also it seems the rural area was in a more rebellious mood than was Boston. They were already pretty independent.
At the bridge earlier was a ranger talk and also fife and drum corps, the Middlesex County Vounteers Fifes and Drums who marched across the bridge from the National Parks visitors center. www.mcvfifesanddrums.org/media.html. There are a number of music and militia re-enactor groups both Colonial and British: www.actonminutemen.org, www.lincolnminutemen.org, www.brigade.org, http://friendsofminuteman.org, www.footguards.tripod.com (The First Footguard later called Grenadiers) with stirring music, and at www.redcoat.org (10th Regiment of Foot) go to /Songs/tunes.html if you want a selection of many tunes. Also see www.ushistory.org/people/minutemen.htm
So glad it was a beautiful day in the 70s. We came back by way of Lexington green.
Concord and other towns have events during the year. We just moved to the Boston area from Missouri.
Bill in Watertown, MA
[email protected]
But last Saturday in Concord marked the 300th anniversary of he birth of Col. James Barrett. Special events were held at the farmhouse which is being restored. Various people were in Colonial era clothes with some music. Principally there was a reenactment of the search by British Regulars for armament. The Colonel was not at home and the cannon had been hidden elsewhere. Mrs. Barrett indignately met the soldiers at the door and objected to their entry. But the troops conducted a search as ordered, one scattering bed feathers until another told him he looked silly (actually there was some munition hidden further down).
Mrs. Barrett served the officers cider but not stronger ale. She said it was her Christian duty. Several units were left to guard the bridge. The minutemen from the surrounding area gathered to face the Red Coats who by the way had a skirmish with wounded men passing through Lexington that morning. The farmers from all over had been forewarned of the English march into the countryside to capture armments. Sixty four old Barrett had reluctantly accepted command of the militia which had purged some thought to be Loyalists. So on that day April 9, 1775, there was the Battle of Concord with casualties on both sides.
The British contingent retreated back to Boston and were fired upon along the way with casualties. Not long thereafter came the Battle of Bunker Hill when the Colonists outflanked the British and forced the evacuation of Boston. At the Barrett farm on Saturday we heard a talk by John L. Bell who has a very informative blog about many Revolutionary War matters. See www.boston1775.com. Did you know why the British uniforms were red? It had nothing to do with style. It was because in those days the musket fire raised a great deal of smoke and the red uniforms provided a means of identifying where the troops were in the line. Also it seems the rural area was in a more rebellious mood than was Boston. They were already pretty independent.
At the bridge earlier was a ranger talk and also fife and drum corps, the Middlesex County Vounteers Fifes and Drums who marched across the bridge from the National Parks visitors center. www.mcvfifesanddrums.org/media.html. There are a number of music and militia re-enactor groups both Colonial and British: www.actonminutemen.org, www.lincolnminutemen.org, www.brigade.org, http://friendsofminuteman.org, www.footguards.tripod.com (The First Footguard later called Grenadiers) with stirring music, and at www.redcoat.org (10th Regiment of Foot) go to /Songs/tunes.html if you want a selection of many tunes. Also see www.ushistory.org/people/minutemen.htm
So glad it was a beautiful day in the 70s. We came back by way of Lexington green.
Concord and other towns have events during the year. We just moved to the Boston area from Missouri.
Bill in Watertown, MA
[email protected]
Aug 2nd, 2010, 01:13 PM
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Hi Bill,
If you have time, check out the Battle Road Walk offered by the Minuteman National Park Service @ Concord and Lexington (http://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm ). The walk is only offered once a month during the summer. It is 3.5 hrs long and covers most of the Battle Walk Trail. We took the walk last month and had lots of fun while learning history.
http://www.nps.gov/ner/customcf/apps...t10004687.html
Speaking of literary Concord, the RW Emerson house can be visited. Across the street from Emerson's House is the Concord Museum (http://www.concordmuseum.org/ )which is very interesting and well laid-out. Under 1 mile down the road from Emerson's home is Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott (http://www.louisamayalcott.org/ ). Near Orchard House is the Wayside where Hawthorne lived (http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisi...-and-tours.htm ). And of course, Walden Pond is nearby too.
I hope you'll have time to visit these other areas, Bill. Concord & Lexington is particular beautiful in the fall with foliage colors. I try to make a trip out in that area every year.
If you have time, check out the Battle Road Walk offered by the Minuteman National Park Service @ Concord and Lexington (http://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm ). The walk is only offered once a month during the summer. It is 3.5 hrs long and covers most of the Battle Walk Trail. We took the walk last month and had lots of fun while learning history.
http://www.nps.gov/ner/customcf/apps...t10004687.html
Speaking of literary Concord, the RW Emerson house can be visited. Across the street from Emerson's House is the Concord Museum (http://www.concordmuseum.org/ )which is very interesting and well laid-out. Under 1 mile down the road from Emerson's home is Orchard House, home of Louisa May Alcott (http://www.louisamayalcott.org/ ). Near Orchard House is the Wayside where Hawthorne lived (http://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisi...-and-tours.htm ). And of course, Walden Pond is nearby too.
I hope you'll have time to visit these other areas, Bill. Concord & Lexington is particular beautiful in the fall with foliage colors. I try to make a trip out in that area every year.
Aug 2nd, 2010, 02:14 PM
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I recently took a friend on the Concord/Lexington tour and stopped by at the Lexington visitor center of the Park Service. I can recommend the movie they show there--it would be terrific to see the movie before heading out on the Battle Road walk. It's a good overview of the battle and the movie is shown there only--not at the Concord NPS visitor center.
Downtown Concord is a pleasant stop for lunch and to walk around. The cemetery is the resting place for many of "literary" Concord. The public library often has very good small exhibits as well.
The Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington has varied and interesting exhibits. It also has a big parking lot (free) and free admission. http://www.monh.org/
Don't mean to hijack your report Bill, just add a bit! The anniversary celebration at the Old Manse sounded like a lot of fun.
Downtown Concord is a pleasant stop for lunch and to walk around. The cemetery is the resting place for many of "literary" Concord. The public library often has very good small exhibits as well.
The Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington has varied and interesting exhibits. It also has a big parking lot (free) and free admission. http://www.monh.org/
Don't mean to hijack your report Bill, just add a bit! The anniversary celebration at the Old Manse sounded like a lot of fun.
Aug 3rd, 2010, 05:18 AM
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Thanks yk and cw for the additions. Yes, we will return...maybe with out of town guests! Wonderful to live so close. We are aware of the historic houses and our daughter returned on her own to the Alcott one. I hear Walden Pond is restricted due to earlier flooding. Was there many years ago.
Bill in Boston
Bill in Boston
Oct 9th, 2011, 09:50 AM
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What better way for a couple of seniors to enjoy a beautiful October Saturday than driving out to Concord, Mass, to delve into a little history? After all, from Watertown we are about 20 minutes away from Minute Man Nat'l Pk. So out Rte. 2 with first stop Hartwell Tavern with a special appearance of a few British Regimental Foot Guard. Nowadays a few women "recruits." They did some maneuvering, fife & drum, etc.
Hartwell Tavern was built in 1733 and added to in 1786 with much of the original building preserved when passed into park hands 1967. Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell had 9 children and 3 of their sons were in the Lincoln Minute Men contingent, fought at North Bridge, saw action later in the Revolutionary War. Only a few rooms open including the tavern...actually this would have been an inn for travelers. The low ceilings it seems were not because men were shorter but to keep in the heat.
Hartwell Tavern was built in 1733 and added to in 1786 with much of the original building preserved when passed into park hands 1967. Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell had 9 children and 3 of their sons were in the Lincoln Minute Men contingent, fought at North Bridge, saw action later in the Revolutionary War. Only a few rooms open including the tavern...actually this would have been an inn for travelers. The low ceilings it seems were not because men were shorter but to keep in the heat.
Oct 9th, 2011, 10:19 AM
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As the park ranger explained, the surrounding area is very different from that fateful day of April 19, 1775. Today we see woodlands but back then practically no trees, instead farmland and apple orchards (hard cider was a common
beverage). But there were picket fences and rock walls as the British were keen on marking boundaries.
Yes, yk, we did check out a little of the Battle Road Trail. At least we walked down the pathway to Bloody Angle where there were a few trees. And here is a place along the route where the Red Coats marching back to Boston were under intense fire from the Minute Men. This coming after the confrontation earlier at North Bridge. You can see a marker for a buried Red Coat there. As you know, the English had marched to Concord to seize cannon and weapons which had already been removed (see previous about Col. Barrett's house). And they had an earlier skirmish on the town green at Lexington en route to Concord.
This walkway connecting historic sites is great for walkers and bikers and Saturday many were out. You chat with folks from all over...even Missouri where we had lived. There is the Minute Men Visitor's Center and Lexington Visitor's Center and North Bridge Visitor's Center which we've seen earlier which go into details. Also the several historic houses are open yet to be visited.
Hartwell Tavern continues to be restored.
www.nps.gov.mima/hartwell-tavern.htm
(to be continued)
beverage). But there were picket fences and rock walls as the British were keen on marking boundaries.
Yes, yk, we did check out a little of the Battle Road Trail. At least we walked down the pathway to Bloody Angle where there were a few trees. And here is a place along the route where the Red Coats marching back to Boston were under intense fire from the Minute Men. This coming after the confrontation earlier at North Bridge. You can see a marker for a buried Red Coat there. As you know, the English had marched to Concord to seize cannon and weapons which had already been removed (see previous about Col. Barrett's house). And they had an earlier skirmish on the town green at Lexington en route to Concord.
This walkway connecting historic sites is great for walkers and bikers and Saturday many were out. You chat with folks from all over...even Missouri where we had lived. There is the Minute Men Visitor's Center and Lexington Visitor's Center and North Bridge Visitor's Center which we've seen earlier which go into details. Also the several historic houses are open yet to be visited.
Hartwell Tavern continues to be restored.
www.nps.gov.mima/hartwell-tavern.htm
(to be continued)
Oct 9th, 2011, 10:53 AM
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I still have fond memories of a beautiful fall morning in mid-October 4 years ago when we (husband, son and I) were the only tourists at the North Bridge for about 10 minutes.
Before you go to some of the literary sites in Concord, you might want to check out this good book: The Literary Trail of Greater Boston: A Tour of Sites in Boston, Cambridge, and Concord by Susan Wilson
Another place near Boston I like to visit in the fall is the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard
Before you go to some of the literary sites in Concord, you might want to check out this good book: The Literary Trail of Greater Boston: A Tour of Sites in Boston, Cambridge, and Concord by Susan Wilson
Another place near Boston I like to visit in the fall is the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard
Oct 9th, 2011, 11:50 AM
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I've wanted to return to Concord since our first, very brief, visit there quite a few years ago. Just wanted to reiterate - as a girlhood fan of Little Women - how enjoyable and meaningful the visit to Louisa Mae Alcott's house was. To see dresses that belonged to her her and sisters and which seemed the models for the illustrations that were in my copy of LW, or to see the hand decoration on the windowsills left from the sister on whom Amy was based...brought tears to my eyes..
Oct 10th, 2011, 05:58 AM
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Vttraveler...yes that Literary Trail book does look good. Also found in tripadvisor a list of 190 Things to Do in Boston. But didn't know about Fruitland Museum in Harvard, MA...another place to explore www.fruitland.org
Moving down the road toward Concord last Saturday, next we come to The Wayside. Early land records date to 1717, built as a farmhouse. There was a Minute Man Samuel Whitney who lived here and thus its inclusion in the Minute Man Nat'l Park sites. Bronson Alcott moved his family here 1852 after operating a failed school...aided by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He added on to the structure. Yes, tuckerdc, this is where little Louisa May got her ideas for "Little Women" (1868), though they soon moved away. She did begin writing here.
Eventually Hawthorne bought the house (1852)and renamed it The Wayside. Guide reminded us that this area was where Concord grapes originated...again once much less wooded and with orchards, fields. In the visitor's center a lifesize model of Hawthorne has him facing away since he was secretive.
An underground railroad site.
Luckily we caught a tour limited to ten but adding us. In the only house he ever owned Hawthorne did pen several works here and entertained literary friends. It is the women who might be mentioned regarding The Wayside because later Harriett Lathrop, wife of publisher Daniel, and their daughter were responsible for preserving the house for posterity including furnishings. Lathrop purchased The Wayside 1883 and wife's pen name was Margaret Sidney...penning children's books such as "The Five Little Peppers" series.
So daughter Margaret Lathrop inherited the place 1924 andcompleted preservation efforts in what she rightly called the Home of Authors. She continued as owner and opened the house for tours. At her death in 1970 the property passed to the Park Service.
Surely we will return to the area with other historic homes and sites to see.
See www.librarything.com/venue/34321/The-Wayside
www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pwwmh/ma47.htm
Let me mention a site with corrected reference where John H. Bell has lots of interesting historic research:
boston1775.blogspot.com
Bill in Boston
Moving down the road toward Concord last Saturday, next we come to The Wayside. Early land records date to 1717, built as a farmhouse. There was a Minute Man Samuel Whitney who lived here and thus its inclusion in the Minute Man Nat'l Park sites. Bronson Alcott moved his family here 1852 after operating a failed school...aided by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He added on to the structure. Yes, tuckerdc, this is where little Louisa May got her ideas for "Little Women" (1868), though they soon moved away. She did begin writing here.
Eventually Hawthorne bought the house (1852)and renamed it The Wayside. Guide reminded us that this area was where Concord grapes originated...again once much less wooded and with orchards, fields. In the visitor's center a lifesize model of Hawthorne has him facing away since he was secretive.
An underground railroad site.
Luckily we caught a tour limited to ten but adding us. In the only house he ever owned Hawthorne did pen several works here and entertained literary friends. It is the women who might be mentioned regarding The Wayside because later Harriett Lathrop, wife of publisher Daniel, and their daughter were responsible for preserving the house for posterity including furnishings. Lathrop purchased The Wayside 1883 and wife's pen name was Margaret Sidney...penning children's books such as "The Five Little Peppers" series.
So daughter Margaret Lathrop inherited the place 1924 andcompleted preservation efforts in what she rightly called the Home of Authors. She continued as owner and opened the house for tours. At her death in 1970 the property passed to the Park Service.
Surely we will return to the area with other historic homes and sites to see.
See www.librarything.com/venue/34321/The-Wayside
www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pwwmh/ma47.htm
Let me mention a site with corrected reference where John H. Bell has lots of interesting historic research:
boston1775.blogspot.com
Bill in Boston
Oct 10th, 2011, 07:22 AM
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the website is www.fruitlands.org (not fruitland). The farmhouse part of the museum talks about Bronson Alcott and his experimental utopian community
Oct 10th, 2011, 09:33 AM
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I actually haven't visited the interiors of Hartwell Tavern or the Wayside. I should try to do that next weekend or so.
Do go to Fruitlands Museum when you have a chance. We went last summer and were pleasantly surprised by the wide range of exhibits there. They also have lovely, lovely grounds and we had a wonderful summer picnic lunch.
Not too far from Fruitlands Museum is Tower Hill botanic Gardens. Have you been? Perfect place to view fall foliage.
Do go to Fruitlands Museum when you have a chance. We went last summer and were pleasantly surprised by the wide range of exhibits there. They also have lovely, lovely grounds and we had a wonderful summer picnic lunch.
Not too far from Fruitlands Museum is Tower Hill botanic Gardens. Have you been? Perfect place to view fall foliage.
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