View of the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg
Hi everyone! Can you believe the first month of the year is almost over? It’s certainly gone by quickly! Well, before February arrives, I was extremely blessed to be able to visit Colonial Williamsburg this past weekend.
For years, a visit to Williamsburg was a dream of mine, and last year I finally went. Even though we had 2 1/2 days to explore, we still didn’t see it all. So as our membership tapered off, my mom and returned to use it before it expired.
Our first morning there it was cold and sunny. We parked at the visitor center (parking is free there), and walked the winding path to the Historic Area. The path brings you to a quiet street with pastures leading up to the Governor’s Palace. Fortunately, we had seen the Palace last year, as it was closed for maintenance, along with its kitchen. So we continued down the Palace Green to the George Wythe House.
The George Wythe House
Did you know that George Wythe was one of Thomas Jefferson’s mentors? Wythe was a very accomplished man. He taught many students one-on-one in his home, giving “pop quizzes” to students when he met them on the street. Then he was elected president of the College of William and Mary. As a signer of the Declaration of Independence among other things, he was a highly respected man.
The house named after him was built in the 1750’s and was actually given to him when he married. Wythe’s father-in-law stipulated that the property would remain with him unless he had no children, in which case the house would return to his wife’s family. Sadly, Wythe and his wife never did have children. In fact, Wythe planned to gift his estate to his grand-nephew, but was poisoned by him! Fortunately, Wythe lived long enough to revise his will.
The Wythe house is one of the 88 original structures in Colonial Williamsburg, and is full of colorful wall papers, mirrors, and glass-covered pictures. All of these things were signs of wealth in the 18th century.
Now this place has become near and dear to me. Used as the headquarters of the Bolton Historical Society, I’ve been spending some time here each week. Handling 200 year-old documents, discussing how cookies could add to a fundraiser, and discovering a new link in Bolton’s history are all activities that I’ve participated in. So much happens inside the building, sometimes I forget about the story of the building itself. So it was a great experience to go on a tour given to my family and friend when they came to visit.
Ushered in by a chilling breeze, we stepped through the house’s old green door. Inside the entryway, a steep, wood staircase leads to the second floor, and several doorways sprout from the narrow hall. Turning into the room known as the ballroom, we made our introductions. Then our tour began.
To start, they began with Bolton’s earliest origins. Incorporated on its own in 1738, the tiny town of Bolton was originally part of Lancaster, Massachusetts. Though now you can zip from one small town to another in minutes, many people walked in those days. When Sunday meetings were held on the opposite side of town than where they lived, inhabitants soon tired of their arduous hike. So they applied to become their own town.
As I mentioned, we were standing in the ballroom. This room actually used to be a part of a different building! Serving as the ballroom for the Holman Tavern for many years, it was later brought down the street and reattached, as people were fond of doing back then. Though the space is not very large when it comes to ballrooms, we were told that it would hold the amount of passengers who came in on the coach and were looking for an activity to pass the night with before they slept.
When the ballroom was restored, picture molding was installed so that the walls would not be damaged if they needed to hang anything. Several portraits now lie against the walls, brief sights of the people who used to call Bolton home. Some of the figures are from the Nourse family. Back in 17th century Salem, one of the ‘witches’ that was hung was Rebekah Towne Nurse. After the Witch Trials, her family moved to Bolton and changed their name, trying to be rid of the association. Now her descendants have left their mark out here.
Across the hallway is another room used for exhibits. A working victrola stands in one corner, and we listened to its cheerful soundtrack for a few minutes. Hanging on an old, metal dress form is a World War II nurses’ uniform. Next to it, there are pictures of the woman who originally wore it, now very old!
At the end of the hallway is the kitchen where one of the house’s residents, Florence Sawyer, spent a lot of her time. Florence was the town’s 4H leader for several decades and taught many boys and girls how to sew and cook. Boltonites who are old enough to have spent time with her remember fondly stopping by her home on the way back from school for a freshly baked cookie.
Behind the kitchen, a less-finished room is tacked onto the main house. Called the Summer Kitchen, its purpose was to allow the hot activity of cooking to take place just outside of the main house during the year’s warmer months. That way, the house could stay a little cooler. An interesting feature of this room to note is the small space portioned off in one corner. Peek inside and you’ll see a two-holer privy. Let that sink in for a moment.
Next, we headed upstairs. The second level is where most of the work at the historical society happens. While the downstairs is set up with exhibits and such, the upstairs is filled with donations and collections that are not on display. Two rooms are filled to bursting with boxes containing various items, from 19th century underwear to an old key belonging to the powder house on the hill. (The powder house was where the town’s ammunition would be stored.)
Another room is walled with bookshelves: there are books about Bolton, newspaper clippings, over 2,000 photographs, and more. A work table is in the center, and a computer sits on the side. On the computer is stored a digitized version of Bolton’s first town book, in which is included all the town’s responses to the American Revolution!
The fourth room is where I spend a lot of time. Spread across the table are stacks of old documents and recent donations that are waiting to be catalogued. Yellowing folds of paper from the 1700’s are carefully recorded and put away in their designated spots. Sometimes the handwriting can be impossibly difficult to read, but it’s always a triumph when it can be deciphered. I’ve been trying to make sure my own writing’s in tip-top shape now. Just in case it’s important to someone one hundred years from now.
Up a final flight of stairs is the attic. It also holds mounds of historic artifacts. Two huge spinning wheels sit in the center, and there’s even a bust of Napoleon Bonaparte in one corner. Did you know that Napolean almost visited Bolton? He mentioned it in one of his writings, and was invited there after the war, but the offer didn’t come to fruition.
Outside, there are two other buildings on the property. One is a barn, where each year the society holds their annual wreath sale. The original barn was actually much smaller, but a subsequent resident added on.
A smaller building sits to the side, with faded wooden sides, locked up tight. A blacksmith shop sign usually sits above the doors, but it’s been brought in for repairs. Inside is a shop capable of being fully functional. A giant leather bellow hangs from the ceiling, and iron tools are hung all around. The tools are sometimes used by family who reconstructed an exact version of a blacksmith shop that used to stand in Bolton. Down to the very last detail of its former build, you might not be able to tell the difference. The story goes that this particular shop might have used to have been a chicken coop.
I really enjoy spending time here, and I would encourage anyone to stop by if they have the chance. And even though all the items here are very interesting, it’s the people who devote their time here, telling their intriguing stories and factoids about the town, that really make up the Bolton Historical Society.
Set into the pavement of Boston, a thin brick trail snakes through the city. Follow the path, and you’ll past by over 16 sites of historical importance to U.S. independence. There are many ways to explore the Freedom Trail, from winging it on your own, to taking a guided tour. Our plan was to do some of each.
The Freedom Trail Foundation is the most prevalent agency: you can buy their tickets in a booth on the Boston Common. They offer several different tours in addition to their standard one, such as the African-American Patriots Tour, and Revolutionary Women Tour.
Another site to check is the Boston National Historical Park website. Lots of free programs are listed. There are Walking the Battlefield tours and Faneuil Hall Talks among many others. Make sure you look before you go!
Founded in 1634(!), the Boston Common marks the start of the Freedom Trail. The area was called the Common because it was land held common to all, where anyone and everyone’s animals could graze. Believe it or not, before the digging projects in Boston, one side of the space actually fronted the water! The Common was also a place where public punishments took place. Picture stocks and a gallows. Not exactly where you’d pick to put a playground. XP
Even though the website warned that the early tours were packed, we went on one anyway. We wanted to get an earlier start in the city. Our group was so large we split in two. But you needn’t be worried about hearing the tour guide. He expertly shouted the entire tour; I was impressed.
Our tour guide was Isaiah Thomas, printer of the Massachusetts Spy in the 18th century. Thomas shifted from his 18th century identity to his knowledgable 21st century self seamlessly. Known as Rob Crean, he was trained as a comedian, and you can tell. There were lots of punny jokes related to historic Boston happenings. Crean/Thomas also incorporated great unusual anecdotes into his tour that I really enjoyed.
Across the street from the Common was the next site on the trail. Lying in the shadow of the Park Street Church is the Old Granary burial ground. The name comes from the large granary that used to stand in the church’s place. (Park Street church wasn’t built until later–founded 1809).
John Hancock’s Stone
Many famous revolutionaries were interred here. Names such as James Otis, Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Sam Adams grace the headstones.
An interesting side note: pennies fill the top of Revere’s grave. Jewish traditions of placing stones on graves translated to pennies in honor of the silversmith.
Thomas/Crean rattled off several more diverting tidbits: Paul Revere’s family fled from France–they were Huguenots. Revere’s father’s name was actually Apollos Rivoire, but he Anglicized it when they moved. Also, take a look at the golden dome of the State House. Paul Revere originally plated it in copper! But when the verdigris consumed it, Bostonians decided it wasn’t elegant enough for their seat of government.
I mentioned Sam Adams. Our guide made several jabs at the well-known figure. Apparently, he wasn’t an especially attractive man. Likely you’ve heard of the beer bearing his name. But the picture on the bottle is Paul Revere instead, a noticeably more handsome face.
A little farther down the brick path is site of the Boston Latin school. This was the first public school in the country, started in 1635. Producing famous alumni such as Cotton Mather, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams, the school still operates in a different location. The current structure in residence is the Old City Hall, which was built in 1865. In front of the building’s impressive columns stands a statue of Benjamin Franklin. (Ironically, he was a Boston Latin School dropout.)
We walked just past the Boston Massacre Site to avoid the crowds and traffic surrounding it. Thomas/Crean proceeded to give an amazing retelling of the event – unlike any I’ve heard. His account brought light to an oft forgotten perspective of the event: that of the Regulars.
The actual spot of the massacre is in the middle of the intersection. When installing the memorial, they didn’t want any more deaths caused by incautious gawkers, so they set it off to one side.
If you’re curious to know more about the Boston Massacre, look up John Adams’ part in the trial. The proceedings brought his name to the forefront for the first time, and in a negative light for many.
Our final stop on the Walk Through History tour was Faneuil Hall. As you stand before the building, try to imagine it as it was originally–about half the size, and partially over the water. It’s a bit difficult.
Faneuil Hall was built as one man’s effort to leave a legacy to a world where he left no descendants. Peter Faneuil’s wealthy uncle deeded his riches to Peter under the promise that Peter would marry his business and no one else. He agreed. When he began to age, he decided to build the town of Boston an indoor market bearing his name.
Another aspect of the hall I found fascinating was the time capsule. Upon further studying, the timeline of the capsule seems a bit vague, mixed with some legend. However, standing firmly in fact is the construction of the grasshopper weather vane by Shem Drowne. At some point in the 18th century, the vane began to be used as a time capsule, likely by Drowne’s son. Various coins, papers, and a note were discovered inside.
This was the end of the tour, but the Freedom Trail Foundation also offers a North End tour that continues one hour later. We enjoyed ourselves so much we bought tickets for the second half. After selecting some tasty lunch from inside Quincy Market, we were off.
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.
