History Quester

Discovering History Everywhere

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Part 2: Adventure on Boston’s Freedom Trail

January 16, 2020 / / 0 Comments
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 (U.S. National Park Service)

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

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.

Old City Hall

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.

The Old North Church

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.

Home – USS Constitution Museum

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.

Book Review: The Last Dickens

December 31, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Sometimes historical fiction hits the spot when a thick tome of erudite research seems too difficult to read. Or perhaps you’re just in the mood for an intriguing story set in a different time. Either way, The Last Dickens, by Matthew Pearl, is an excellent selection.

The Last Dickens is set in the 1860’s, based around the death of Charles Dickens, who was in the midst of writing a serial mystery novel when he died.

The Boston publishing firm, Fields, Osgood, and Company, was Dickens’ legal American publisher. But the firm is threatened by Dickens’ death and pirates in the book trade. In order to save his firm, James R. Osgood must discover how Dickens intended the mystery to end.

Sailing across the Atlantic with his loyal bookkeeper, the publishing agent finds himself the center of attention in dangerous circles.

Pearl skillfully weaves fact and fiction together, creating an intricate story based on a real-life mystery. The Last Dickens made me interested in the 19th century publishing trade and the fate of Dickens final book.

The research to write this book must have been exhaustive, for many elements throughout the book are from Dickens’ actual life, even including the loss of a diary.

I have read one other of Pearl’s books, and I’ve noticed his fascination with publishing, authors, and their writing. Pearl’s unique take on history provides a fresh prospective on an era filled with Civil War accounts and reconstruction controversies.

Pearl is a superb writer, and if you pick up any of his works, you’re in luck!

What happened to Massachusetts?

December 17, 2019 / / 2 Comments

Hello everyone! I must apologize for my prolonged absence and offer a brief explanation.

  1. My family moved
  2. I started online college

Yep, moved again. All the way across the country. So while history might be a little harder to dig up than in Massachusetts, dig it up I will. (I’ll still have some backlogged posts from MA for a bit though.)

And college! Challenging and satisfying, but a lot of writing. I finished up finals last week, so I’m officially 1/8 of the way through college. XP

Put those together, and my blog sadly fell to the side. However! Over winter break I’m going to start things up again and aim to keep the posts coming through the spring semester. So posts will be coming very soon.

I’m looking forward to the great times ahead! Enjoy the holidays!

In the meantime, feel free to browse the archives:)

A Snapshot of NYC

August 7, 2019 / / 0 Comments

New York City is a concentrated specimen of humanity. In it, both our accomplishments and downfalls are on full display. 8.2 million people are squished together into an area of about 300 square miles.

This was my first visit to the Big Apple; and I can tell I have only scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. New York City encompasses history both old and new, and I got to taste a little of each. Of course, not without a good dose of modern culture too.

Preview Points:

  • Many waves of NYC’s immigrants have lived in tenements.
  • We met a Holocaust survivor!

We didn’t take the standard boat ride to Ellis or Liberty Island. Instead we experienced an innovative museum in the Lower East Side of NYC.

The Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum is by tour only. Unlike many museums, there is a wide variety of tours that you can take. Each one touches on a different aspect of the tenement. You can keep coming back and hear a unique story each time. I’m sure this model also makes more money for the museum.

What makes this tenement so special is that it’s a completely ordinary building. The structure survived exactly how it looked over 100 years ago. No major renovations and no total teardown.

Our tour guide started off by reminding us that history is something that is very much alive. What has happened in the past affects our lives now, and what is happening now is the history of the future. She encouraged us to ask questions, to make the tour less of a speech, and more of a dialogue.

The tour that still had tickets left (get them ahead of time!) was titled Shop Life. Focusing on the basement level of the tenement, we sat down inside what used to be shop space. We were to learn about three of the many families who did business there over the years.

A Little Germany lager shop was the first of many businesses to occupy the building. In places such as Bavaria and Hamburg, tiny bars served as the center of the community. All ages gathered there to eat, drink, and socialize–almost a neighborhood living room. The lager shop brought that tradition to their new home.

This neighborhood has been the initial landing spot for many waves of immigrants. Later on, the area flooded with Eastern Jews, and lager shops transformed into kosher butcher shops.

During the Depression era, the space was converted into an auction house. Later in its varied life, a lingerie shop operated in the tenement. (They even had a pair of underwear in a case!) In a sort of full circle, the descendants of Jewish immigrants owned the business. Today, the neighborhood is predominantly Latino.

We continued on our Jewish history trail with our next stop.

The Jewish Heritage Museum

One of the many prominent immigrant groups in New York are the Jews. I don’t think I’ve seen that many yarmulkes before, granted, I probably haven’t seen that many people before, so…. Anyways, we heard about the city’s Jewish Heritage Museum and a special, temporary Auschwitz exhibit they have right now.

When we arrived at the museum, we had completely underestimated how much time we would need. The staff told us that it would be a waste of money to spend less than two hours there. After some deliberation, we resolved to come back another time before the exhibit left.

But on the second floor, there is an Andy Goldsworthy art installation that is open to the public. Gathering our whole gang, we rode upstairs. As we did, my younger sister said that she had just met a survivor of the Holocaust! The woman was waiting for a school group to arrive, and struck up a conversation.

Exclaiming over what it would be like to talk to a survivor, we stepped outside to the installation where you could see the water. Nestled between the cement walls of the museum were large, irregular stones; and inside of each stone grew a small tree. Their tiny trunks sprouted from a single hole in the stones’ centers.

A description of the exhibit likened the holocaust to these objects: life can grow in the most inhospitable of places.

There was a sober hope about the place. Green, leafy trees flourish despite the grey surroundings. Through the glass barrier the Statue of Liberty stands in the distance. An interesting comparison.

When we returned inside, we saw the woman my sister had spoken to. She said she had loved talking with her, and felt an obligation now to tell her more. So she invited us all to listen to her story which she was about to give to a school group.

We thanked her, and took a seat. Her story was not the usual one. No concentration camps, gas chambers, and numbered nameless. However, the terror was no less.

Sally Engelberg Frishberg was born in Poland. She was very young when Hitler came to power, and war began to overtake Europe. Once Poland was occupied, real world news was difficult to find. The people of Poland lived in a bubble of restrictions.

One point that Sally made very clear was this: there is a big difference between Nazis, and Germans. Not all Germans were Nazis. Her father became friends with a German soldier who they were forced to house–that man, Mr. Arnold, was not a Nazi.

Notices for the inhabitants of her town during the occupation became progressively restrictive. Finally, a notice was posted that was only for Jews; it no longer referred to them as citizens.

When news came that all Jews should report to the train stations, Sally’s father refused. Others asked him why: the Germans promised better living conditions at the end of the journey–better everything. Sally’s father replied with a warning Mr. Arnold had given him. Don’t worry about the little lies; they are harmless. But when there are big lies, be scared.

“WE ALL NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG.”

SALLY FRISHBERG

Sally’s father refused to go, and the entire Jewish community of their tiny village stayed with him. All except Sally’s grandfather, who called him crazy for his skepticism. He left on the trains, and the family never heard from him again.

Now Sally’s father said they needed to leave: the Germans wouldn’t find them at the trains, and they wouldn’t find them at their house. So Sally’s family, along with her maternal uncle’s family, fled. During the day, they hid inside haystacks, then moved on at night. The season was warm, and they were able to stay together.

One night, Sally’s mother and uncle heard a familiar whistle. Taking a risk, they emerged from their hiding place, hoping against hope it signaled help. It was. Their childhood friend was there. He told them that the Nazis would find them there–other Jews had been discovered then killed on the spot.

From that night on, this friend warned them of Nazi searches, and told them which places were safe. As the weather cooled, Sally’s mother begged him to build them a house of sorts to stay in. He couldn’t. All his tools had been confiscated. But he relented, and hid the families in his attic.

For two whole years, this man cared for the people living in his attic. Every day, he brought them food and disposed of their waste. At last, as Allied troops neared the house, the friend told them they would find safety if they entered Allied territory. They made their way to safety by crawling. After such a long confinement, their legs could no longer hold them.

“DON’T LET WRONG PASS YOU BY; IT WILL HIT THOSE YOU LOVE THE MOST.”

SALLY FRISHBERG

Listening to her firsthand account was gripping in a way that no book can be. If you ever have an opportunity to speak to someone who has actually experienced a historic event, do it. There’s no replacement.

~

New York City teems with things to see. From craning my neck to look at the skyscrapers, to the other world of the subway, the city has so much to experience. There’s the staircase-to-nowhere Vessel, tasty food practically everywhere you look, and art in so many formats.

Once I got over my slight feeling of claustrophobia, New York was stupendous!

The Tenement Museum’s website has some great resources! Check out their videos, articles, photos, and podcasts about immigration and America.

Immigration Museum NYC | Tenement Museum

Neighborhood Walking Tours Discover often-forgotten places, unexplored spaces, and untold stories in a curated exploration of New York’s Lower East Side, a neighborhood that defined the immigrant experience. Tenement Apartment Tours Explore historically restored tenement buildings and discover how immigrants lived on New York’s Lower East Side in the 19 th and 20 th centuries.

This website has blog posts and moire detailing personal aspects of the Holocaust. A brief video on the exhibit is also available.

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust

The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is New York’s contribution to the global responsibility to never forget.

Book Review: Cræft

July 16, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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 couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I wanted to be doing more than just clicking away on the computer. I desired to really use my hands to live my everyday life. While I was pondering on this, I found Alexander Langland’s book, Cræft. Immediately, I was consumed.

WE’RE INCREASINGLY CONSTRAINED BY COMPUTERS AND A PIXELATED ABRIDGEMENT OF REALITY THAT SERVES ONLY TO MAKE US BLIND TO THE TRULY INFINITE COMPLEXITY OF THE NATURAL WORLD.

Alex Langlands, Cræft

Though I’ve never met him, Alexander, Alex, Langlands seems a friend to me. I have watched several of his TV series and read his thoughts in the series’ books. He has appeared in the BBC’s Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and Wartime Farm, to name a few.

In each program, Alex, along with the rest of the team, spent a year experimenting with living life as it would have been in the past. Through these programs, everything from how to catch a rabbit, smoking fish, and basketmaking, to rearing sheep, sowing grains, and harvesting crops was explored.

Over the years, Langlands has accumulated an impressive array of skills and experiences. Cræft assembles all this knowledge into a thought-provoking, exceedingly well-written account. An archaeologist by training, the perspective he brings to issues in Cræft is thoughtful. He asks meaningful and practical questions as to why a particular item or practice fit into a historic culture.

Langlands states that these skills still fit into our modern culture. The satisfaction that is derived from making with one’s hands cannot be obtained from a computer. Furthermore, cræft provides a sustainable and responsible alternative to the commercial industries we rely so heavily upon.

THE GOAL, IN BEING CRÆFTY, IS NOT TO USE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES YOU HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL BUT TO USE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE IN RELATION TO THE JOB THAT NEEDS UNDERTAKING. THIS IS THE RESOURCEFULNESS IN CRÆFT. HAVING PHYSICAL ADEPTNESS, STRENGTH AND FITNESS REPRESENTS THE POWER IN CRAEFT. AND FINALLY, UNDERSTANDING THE MATERIALS, MAKING CRITICAL DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH THE WORK, AND FACTORING IN WIDER FINANCIAL AND TIME CONSTRAINTS REPRESENTS THE KNOWLEDGE IN CRÆFT.

Alex Langlands, Cræft

Cræft identifies the significance of skills such as weaving, shepherding, pond digging, lime burning, and leather making in the history–and future–of mankind. Langland’s descriptions of his own attempts at using a scythe, hedging, and more are entertaining and informative.

Read the foreword and preface even if you aren’t able to read the entire book!

Afterwards, you might think twice the next time you sit down to the computer, zip out to the grocery store, or throw away a rusted farming relic from the shed.

In Cræft, Langlands delves into his insights on exactly what society is losing as true cræftiness disappears. He explores why we so desperately need cræft, and what cræft has meant and will mean to us. All this he does while writing in an engaging, personal style. I finished the book with the sense of having spoken with Alex myself.

Did I say I gave it 5 stars?

Note: even though each chapter could be read on its own, I enjoyed reading them in order, as there were references that built upon each other. Also, I found my copy at the local library!

Cræft

https://youtu.be/CZBqLb_nk6g In the midst of a seemingly endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for products bearing the mark of authenticity-hand-made furniture, artisan breads, craft beers, and other goods produced by human hands. What often goes unnoticed is the transformation of our understanding of craft-or rather, craeft-in the wake of industrialization….

This video was shared by Langlands on social media; it’s an interesting perspective on society’s relationship with cræft today.

The Alamo

July 10, 2019 / / 1 Comment

Remember the Alamo

At first glance, the history of Texas appears immeasurably different from that of Massachusetts. Rugged outposts in the dessert full of ranchers, Spaniards, and Natives come to mind. But they too were a community persevering in difficult environments, who were partial to their independence. Not to be forgotten is the fact that many of the Alamo’s residents were from the eastern seaboard of the U.S. They grew up in 18th and 19th century New England, Virginia, and many other places.

  • The Battle of the Alamo took place March 6, 1836
  • David Crockett and James Bowie were both killed in the battle
  • The Alamo itself has had many different functions, from church to general store

Nowadays, the Alamo is certainly a bit of a tourist trap. Though the grounds are free, a long, albeit moving, line snakes under the trees and positions helpless guests for a requisite photo in front of the church (available in the gift shop).

Despite all that, its history is still there, and it’s important. Behind your pressured photo, the stonework surrounding the heavy wooden doorway is beautiful. Still visible are intricate carvings bordering windows, doors, and coating four columns. Then you step through the 3-foot thick walls into the cool interior.

Top of the Church’s Front Door

Above you, the vaulted ceilings are covered with a grid of circles. Each shallow hole in the plaster is perhaps fist-sized in diameter. Perhaps ironically, they represent the museum’s current dedication to the Alamo’s preservation.

Instigated by the concerning results of the Black Paper Project, a plan is now in place to identify and repair areas where deterioration is worst. The Black Paper Project was initiated when Alamo Conservator, Pamela Jary Rosser, noticed that the Alamo’s soft limestone walls were crumbling. She set out to determine how much, and how quickly the decay was occurring.

Black paper was placed at the foot of certain walls inside the Alamo’s church. Instructing staff not to clean the paper over the course of 600 days, meticulous records were kept of the accumulating debris.

Chart of the Limestone Loss

When the results came in, it was evident that preservation was required if the Alamo was to remain for many more generations. As part of the preservation process, a sort of MRI is being conducted on the entire church. The 3-D scan it creates will be used to determine where structural weaknesses lie, and which areas need the most help.

Though I actually took a photo before I noticed the sign, no photography was allowed inside the church. Even though you can’t see it, there are still some interesting features to discover.

For one, the floor. Made up of large irregular stones, the flooring fits right into the Alamo environment. They’re very worn, but don’t seem to date from the church’s earliest days. When I asked, my answer was that this flooring was installed in 1937. But if you noticed, the man said, some of the inner doorways are quite short. That’s because the foundation they poured in the ’30’s raised the floor level by 2 feet! One of the people I visited with had speculated that maybe it was because people were shorter then. This is just another reminder of how careful were must be when making assumptions about the past!

Two more features are the notched columns and 3-pronged metal items sticking out of the wall. Notched in the mid-1800’s when the building was used by the U.S. military, the columns served as support for a second story. Windows were even added, but the space remains one story today.

The artistically placed metal spikes are actually flag holders. However, as the integrity of the church has weakened, flags are no longer hung on the decorative prongs. One more thing, the arched roof that you see now was not there until after the Battle of the Alamo when it was added by the U.S. Army.

Once you exit the church, a courtyard with scattered buildings, lots of greenery, and a gift shop directly in front greets you. Even a tiny canal full of koi runs across the complex. But none of this was part of the original Alamo. Take a look at this map. In 1836, what comprised the Alamo is indicated by red.

Map of the Alamo

Looking at the map, I seem to have missed a majority of the grounds. After a quick peek through the gift shop (there are scorpion lollipops), I walked over to the living history encampment. One man was beating out a rhythm on a small drum, and I second man was seated by one of the canvas tents. This man informed me that he was dressed how the Alamo defenders would have been – no fancy military uniforms. In actuality, he said, he should have his coat on, because the gathered shirts were considered part of your underwear. That was because the shirts were long and would be worn to bed. Another group was ready to take their picture with the reenactor, so I stepped away.

Next I went to the exhibit hall. I wanted to find out what exactly the Battle of the Alamo was about. I remembered it had to do with Texas’ independence, but that was about it.

Now the museum does offer a 15-20 minute film about the Alamo, which would likely be useful in giving an overview of the place. However, I didn’t go see it.

Inside the Exhibit Hall, it was cool and dim. I think it could’ve been marked more distinctly where you should start. I realized halfway through that – at least timeline-wise – it would’ve been better to start on the other side of the door.

The one large room had posters, information signs, and collections encircling it, along with cases of artifacts in the center. First, this timeline really helped me. (Not the best picture, but it works.)

To put it simply, the Battle of the Alamo was another fight for rights and independence. The Battle occurred after Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain. A republic was established, but the president, Antonio López de Santa Anna, decided he would like more power. Two factions emerged from the political turmoil: the Centralists, who favored a strong, central government, and the Federalists, who wished for power to be concentrated in the states.

The winning side flip-flopped back and forth. When the state rights of Texas were stripped away, its inhabitants (including about 30,000 Americans) revolted. They declared independence from Mexico; and the mother country moved to squash the uprising. A stronghold of resistance was at the old church and fort, the Alamo.

Though the rebels held out as long as they could, in the end, they were completely overcome.

Watch this video! They’ve got a great, brief history of the Alamo – in rap! 😀

Flocabulary

Flocabulary is a learning program for all grades that uses educational hip-hop music to engage students and increase achievement across the curriculum. Teach…

But the Alamo’s history extends to much more than what we think of when we say, “Remember the Alamo.” Starting as a mission in the 1720’s, the Alamo was then used as a military outpost for first the Spanish and then the Americans. Later in life it became a general store, before becoming the museum it is today.

Overall, the museum was interesting, and quite different from what I’ve been to before. However, if you don’t have much of a grasp on the Battle of the Alamo, I would definitely recommend watching the video, and maybe taking the tour. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t read the exhibit in the right order, but I found it difficult to get a sufficient overview of what happened. (I read a little more online afterward.)

The Alamo

The Alamo today stands at the heart of San Antonio and the heart of what it means to be a Texan. It is managed by the Texas General Land Office on behalf of the people of Texas. People visit from all over the world to see and learn about the mission and fort’s vital role in defending freedom.

Main Street: Bolton

June 19, 2019 / / 2 Comments
Watch This Video to See Bolton Now and Then

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 🙂

The Sudbury Minutemen March

May 25, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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 😉

Sudbury Companies of Militia & Minute – Colonial Reenactors

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.

The Story Behind Patriots’ Day

May 14, 2019 / / 0 Comments
Barrett’s House in Concord

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.)

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Image result for april 19 1775 map
Found on math.harvard.edu
Image result for april 19 1775 map
Found on math.harvard.edu

Places To Go – Minute Man National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

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.

Event! Bolton’s Road to Revolution: A Play

May 11, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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!

Bolton Historical Society – Home

Historical Society of Bolton MA

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