Category: 18th Century (Page 2 of 2)

Patriots’ Day Reenactment 2019

April 26, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

The Inscription on the North Bridge Obelisk

Our experience on April 15th was not for the faint of heart. Scheduled to arrive at the original time of 5:30am, we biked in the pre-dawn rain from Concord to Lexington. Each year, dozens of reenactors and hundreds of spectators gather to relive the dramatic events of April 19th, 1775. This year, we would be with them, come what may.

The Regulars were not announced as the British or Redcoats
Some reenactors march the original routes every year
The official holiday is now held on the 3rd Monday of April

I had been told by others who had attended before that traffic and parking could be pretty difficult. So I decided to bike in. Fortunately, I found a friend who wanted to go with me. Although there was a drizzle when we woke at 3:40am, Facebook decreed that nothing was canceled. So we layered up, piled our bikes in the van, and drove to Concord.

We had decided to park about halfway between the towns. Then we would bike back and forth, ensuring that we could beat the crowds leaving afterward. However, we didn’t consider the fact that the rain would likely deter most of the hordes. So we parked in The Wayside: Home of the Authors parking lot anyways. We were the only car there.

Also take note that Massachusetts in April is dark at 4:30 in the morning. With no lights, and the road to ourselves, we biked to the Hartwell Tavern entrance to the Battle Road Trail. In the dimness of early morning, we rode through the rain to the end of the trail. Then we switched to the road at 5:40am, glad that the Redcoats didn’t arrive till 6 o’clock.

The Early-Morning Attendees at Lexington Green

Pedaling over the last few hills, we arrived just in time to hear the rest of the loudspeaker explanation of the events that were about to occur. We circled around the onlookers to find a spot where we could see the action. Right beside the road coming in from the east is where we ended up. We commandeered an excellent view of where the Regulars would come in, though it was a tad distant from the actual skirmish location.

As the rain petered out, hoofbeats clattered down the road, followed by frantic shouts for Captain Parker. “Captain Parker! Captain Parker!” the man cried. “The Regulars are coming! I need to speak with Captain Parker!”

The rider galloped up to the Buckman Tavern, where minutemen had stayed an uneasy night. The men poured across the green, where they formed into a solid line, bayoneted muskets held at the ready.

From the distance, a faint sound of beating drums, and then a fife reached our ears. You could imagine the tension building, with the ominous implications carried in that sound. Then the minutemen rallied their own drummers, filling the air with the sound of war.

Anticipation mounted as the music increased, and the Regulars rounded the corner. Their identical red ranks were perfectly straight, each soldier walking in time with the other.

The Regulars March into Lexington – Video Clip Download

Filing onto the Lexington Green, the Redcoats met the Lexington Minutemen. Angry shouting broke out from both sides. Then the Regulars fanned out, their numbers superior to the colonists’. They began to march forward, pressing towards the minutemen, who took a few hesitant steps back.

A shot rang out, and confusion ensued. Gunfire exploded back and forth, and colonists quickly fell dead and dying on the Green. Rounds blasted from an upstairs window of the Buckman Tavern, and soldiers fired back. The remaining colonists broke, fleeing. Called by their officer and the drums, the Redcoats regrouped into their columns. To the sound of Yankee Doodle, they marched across the field, now unopposed, onward to their goal of Concord.

A single boo rang out from the crowd at the huzzahs required of the Regulars, pulling a laugh from spectators. Then the soldiers were gone, leaving bloodshed in their path.

After a final thank you from the loudspeaker, the visitors dispersed rapidly, just as a downpour began. We stopped one of the scurrying reenactors to ask if they were marching to the North Bridge. He replied, “Not in this weather!”

But even when the Redcoats themselves bailed, sheltering in buildings and cars, we were stuck. Our vehicle awaited us back in Concord, so we pedaled on in the torrential downpour. The vague flickering from earlier formed itself into full-on lightning, accompanied by deafening thunder. Still we plowed on, through puddle-lakes along the Battle Road Trail. We stopped at the signposts, taking note of the various homes that witnessed the fateful day.

To note: April 19th, 1775 would have been a fine day, with no rain to spoil the muskets’ firing mechanisms.

Finally, we veered off the trail back onto Route 2A for the last leg. We decided to stop at the car and just drive into Concord. Approximately 11 miles were already under our belts, and we needed to leave right after the second reenactment.

Since it was 7:45am, the roads were still open. Beware: the roads are closed starting at 8:30 to make way for the parade route. We were able to snag a parking space right in front of the North Bridge Visitors Center.

After warming up, we walked down to the bridge. A small crowd had gathered on both sides, but there were no reenactors in sight. Finally, some park officials began to prepare for the event. Announcements were repeatedly made stating that the reenactment would start in 5 minutes.

At last, the Acton Minutemen, coming all the way from Acton by foot, arrived. However, not all the Regulars made it, so they agreed to just fire a salute from the North Bridge together.

Thoroughly soaked, and now chilly, we hustled away as soon as the second salute ended. We watched the third from the vantage point the 18th century colonists would’ve had on that fateful day.

When the smoke dissipated, we trudged to the car and drove home. Dry clothes were in short order!

Though you might be questioning your need to attend this event next year, I encourage you to go! No biking is necessary. There’s actually a school parking lot near the green where spectators can park. After the Lexington reenactment, multiple charities hold pancake breakfasts. I think that would be a great set up for those not inclined to a 10+ mile bike ride: warm up, eat, and then drive over to the North Bridge. The thrill from witnessing a critical moment from over 200 years ago is well worth it.

Also: be on the lookout next April for related events happening all month long! Here are two websites I found to have great information.

Patriots’ Day 2019 – The 244th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. – Minute Man National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriots’ Day. Patriots’ Day is a special Massachusetts State holiday commemorating the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775.

Patriots Day Schedule 2019 – Reenactments, Parades, Events – Boston Discovery Guide
Patriots Day schedule includes a Patriots Day Parade in Boston plus dozens of major re-enactments of the first day of the American Revolution as local Militia and Minute Men companies commemorate the events of April 19, 1775 in Boston, Lexington, Lincoln, Arlington, Bedford, and Concord.

The Willard House and Clock Museum

March 26, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

The Museum Entrance, Note the Original Saltbox on Left

Time is something I often take for granted. I think of it frequently, mostly in the context of how much I’ve spent and how much I have left. Whenever I’m curious, I have time at my fingertips: my watch, or my phone, the wall clock, oven, microwave or even toaster. Everywhere we look, there are items listing the time, but like many things, it wasn’t always that easy.

Thomas Jefferson signed Simon Willard’s clock patent
Clockmaking spanned 3 generations and 104 years of Willards
About 22 people worked to complete one clock

A Lighthouse Clock

Sundials, water clocks, and hourglasses have all been utilized for their ability to measure time. When mechanical, tall, clocks were invented, they held the place of honor for hundreds of years. However, a man named Simon Willard completely changed that.

Part 3: Colonial Williamsburg

February 11, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

The third and final Colonial Williamsburg installation has arrived, filled with wood, chocolate, and guns! I need to point out here, just in case I haven’t already, that there is so much more to Williamsburg than what I’ve written. On this trip, we didn’t touch at least half of the buildings! And of course, there’s nothing like asking questions for yourself, savoring a scrumptious cup of chocolate, and not having a single modern building in sight.

The Cabinetmakers

Cabinentmakers furnish houses
60% of Virginian colonists’ furniture was made in Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg also boasts a joiner’s shop. And if you are not a woodworking expert (like me), you may wonder what the difference is between the various trades. So the lowdown is this: carpenters build the house, joiners finish the interior of the house, and cabinetmakers construct the furniture.

The furniture built by the cabinetmakers is not crude or basic, which you might expect as they are just colonies. Yes, the colonies did mainly export the abundance of raw materials they had, but there were master craftsmen there. However, of the furniture that was owned in Virginia, 60% was made there. Another 30% was imported, and the remaining 10% came from other colonies. Notice the small percentage there: the colonies weren’t always on the best terms. There were frequent squabbles over land borders.

Inside the shop, a beautiful grandfather clock stands to one side, with an intricately carved window-surround on the other. Pieces of elegant furniture line the walls. We are challenged to find the four hidden drawers inside a tall desk. Each is perfectly fitted into the wooden face. No special hardware is used on any drawers to help them slide in or out more easily.

Samples of table legs, joints, wood types, and more cover one of the workbenches. I picked up a piece of wood that was stained three different colors. The same wood looked shiny and red under a seal of seedlag (linseed oil) and wax, a cool, dark brown with oil and wax, and light brown with just wax. Different finishes were used depending on taste. Wax was always added as a final step to protect the wood.

Often, the wood was not stained, as we usually do now. The modern purpose of a stain can be to make a cheap wood look like its costlier counterpart. But back then, they had plenty of the nicer woods at their disposal. So why stain when you can use the real thing?

The Cabinetmakers
Furniture
Wood Samples
Chair Backs
The Workshop
Behind the Cabinetmakers

We were told multiple times in Williamsburg that 18th century tradesmen would have completed projects much faster than the interpreters do now. The colonists were committed, working long, hard days to finish their work. Adversely, an interpreter’s job is exactly that, to interpret. All told, they may only work 2 hours in a day on a piece.

The Carpenters’ Yard

Carpenters were responsible for constructing houses
House frames ready to be slid together on site (think barn raisings)
Saw pits used by two men to create planks

Unlike the other woodworkers, the carpenters are outside. They plan on building a workshop soon, since there is a lull in other projects currently. An interesting note is that they will be building a kitchen for their workspace. Evidence has been found for a kitchen and house in that specific location, but not a carpenters yard. But in the 18th century, structures were frequently repurposed, so it is historically accurate to use the kitchen for carpentry.

Surrounding the covered work area, the yard is full of shingles, and wood in its various forms. When shingles are made, each one must have a hole in it before it is nailed onto a building. Under the covering, there is a saw pit. These were used in more urban areas where a saw mill wasn’t convenient. Two men, one standing below, in the saw pit, and another above can saw logs into planks.

On the workbench several holes are drilled to be used for holdfasts. Holdfasts are a clever, simple way to secure a piece of wood to the bench while working on it. An L-shaped piece of metal is hammered into the hole, and the pressure from the hole keeps it tight. When the wood around a hole wears out, that hole is plugged and a new one is drilled.

Charlton’s Coffee House

18th century drinking chocolate is very different than the hot chocolate we have today
The coffee house was a gathering place similar to taverns

If you like chocolate at all, don’t miss the coffee house. When you enter, you are invited to take a seat and converse with a Mr. Robert Carter, who lives in town. Since it is a coffee house after all, you are offered a small mug of coffee, tea, or chocolate. Granted, I have not tried the coffee or tea, but I can personally vouch for the chocolate.

The chocolate is thick, rich treat, which we were informed is dairy-free and contains nutmeg, anise, vanilla, cloves, and orange, among other ingredients. It is absolutely delicious.

We all sipped away at our chocolate as Mr. Carter expounded on his duties in the town, and the quality of his twelve plantations, including the weighty topic of slaves. He also discussed that he felt it perfectly fit to educate his daughters as well as his sons, even though it was extra upon the other duties they were learning.

I listened to Mr. Carter answer some formidable questions with tact and insight while staying completely in-character. I was impressed. After a bit, we slipped out the door as we were running low on time.

The Gunsmith’s Shop

Gun barrels were rifled with a simple, ingenious machine
Bullet molds were made to only fit your gun
Barrels started out as a long, thick rectangle of metal

Tucked away in a far corner of the historic area, this one can be easy to miss. However, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. In the shop, only two of the guns had not been made there: those were 18th century pieces. The rest are hammered there in the shop. They start with a wooden blank that is vaguely in the shape of a gun, and a long, narrow chunk of metal for the barrel. Starting in the middle (so there is a cool end to hold), the metal is formed into a long tube, ready to be rifled.

I for one had no idea how gun barrels were rifled. Fortunately, about five minutes before we arrived, a gun barrel had just been finished. The interpreter let us look down the barrel, where you could see all the curls twisting down the interior. Then they demonstrated the ingenious machine used to carve the pattern.

In the pictures to the right, you can see the long rod that is inserted into the gun barrel. On the rod’s end is a small set of metal teeth that scrape against the inside of the gun. The swirls in the wooden cylinder mimic the pattern that will be transferred by forcing the rod to follow their turns as they are rotated.

Rifled guns were not usually for battles, as they required more time to reload. Also, they must be cleaned when powder builds up too much inside so that they don’t explode. Guns, or shotguns, on the other hand, were all-purpose, and used for battles and animals. They didn’t possess much accuracy, but were much faster to load and gave a spray of ammunition (shot).

When a rifle was made for you, you would also receive a bullet mold, which needed to be kept very safe. Oftentimes, a bullet mold would fit only your gun, and vice versa. In a time where everyone made their own bullets instead of buying them from a store, making sure you had ammunition that could fit your gun was very important.

Shuttle Ride and Visitor Center

Shuttle rides are free with admission
The Visitor Center has ticketing, large gift shops, and an introductory movie

Shuttles rotate around the historic area and visitor center, a helpful service when you’ve been walking all day, or if you want to minimize walking.

The visitor center has two large, interconnected gift shops. However, they don’t carry everything that is sold in the historic area. For example, the Prentis Store vends items handmade by interpreters which are not sold elsewhere.

Ticketing is located at the visitor center, along with costume rentals. There is a video about the historic area, but we forgot to watch it :).

Colonial Williamsburg has done a phenomenal job of presenting history in an accurate and engaging way. Going there was an amazing experience, and I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity. In the meantime, they have a profusion of intriguing resources on their website and blog that I encourage you to check out.

Please contact me if you have any questions!

Home page of History.org : The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s official History and Citizenship site
In Colonial Williamsburg’s 301-acre Historic Area stand hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city-black, white, and native American, slave, indentured, and free-and the challenges they faced. In this historic place, we help the future learn from the past.

Part 2: Colonial Williamsburg

February 4, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

A good day to you! I hope you had a pleasant weekend, perhaps with some gameday fun 🙂 This week is a continuation of my jaunt through Colonial Williamsburg. Now, there is a lot of content, so feel free to read through just the summaries if you’re short on time.

Colonial Garden

Gardens were grown year-round in Virginia
Leeks, turnips, lettuce, chard, and beets were common winter choices
Some plants are kept under closhes: glass domes used like mini-greenhouses

Though you might suspect that winter was the colonist’ break from the garden, it wasn’t; duties were just scaled back a little. In Virginia, the temperatures stay warm enough to allow several varieties of food to be grown during the cold season. Many cold-weather crops were tended to provide fresh ingredients for the diet. More delicate plants, such as lettuce, would be kept under personal glass domes when the weather was below freezing. Perhaps surprisingly, salads would’ve only been eaten by the upper classes at that time, and not on an everyday basis.

The Bruton Parish Church

The bell tower and congregation are still active today
Major 18th century figures such as Patrick Henryattended the church
The structure was partially built over a graveyard

The Bruton Parish Church is actually separate from Colonial Williamsburg, and they suggest a $1 donation for visiting. The church is still in use today, holding prayer services, along with a weekly Sunday service. We wove through a few grave sites, and then entered the bell tower. Little children were being given the chance to ring the bell if they wanted.

I noticed that there was a broken headstone inlaid in the floor. When I asked about it, I was informed that there was no body under that particular one. However, when the parish was restored the 20th century, unmarked graves were discovered. They were reinterred in a cement case with a funeral. But some gravestones were laid into the floor. The man told me that visitors are often cautious of walking of them. With a grin, he said that he always says that he’s never heard any complaints.

An organ is in the process of being made for the church. The previous organ had suffered from Virginia’s fluctuating, humid weather, and needed to be replaced. Interestingly, the organ has changed locations over the years. At first, it was set against the wall to the side, above the altar. Later, someone decided that it needed to be symmetrical, switching the instrument to be exactly in the center. This covered the round window, which had remained covered for about 80 years. When the old organ was removed, the window was opened for the 2018 holiday season. Now the window has been sealed again to prepare for the next organ’s arrival.

Along the aisle, with its enclosed pews, you’ll see names of people who sat there on the doors. Several notable figures are present, including James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and John Marshall. Quite the list! Virginia was really a center for revolutionary ongoings as well.

The Weaver

8 spinners required to supply one operating loom
Weavers memorize the patterns for various fabrics
Cochineal beetles were used for red dyes then and now

At Colonial Williamsburg, the weavers’ shop has two looms. However, some shops would only have had one, and the master weaver would be the one on the loom. The young interpreter told us that she had been apprenticed there for one year, beginning right out of high school. Williamsburg actually still hires people to go through the traditional training for trades. First, an apprenticeship, 4 years for girls, and 7 years for boys, starting when they were 14 years old. Now Williamsburg accepts apprentices of all ages.

The looms are threaded with thousands of strands. Apparently, grasping the basic concept of weaving only takes a couple hours. On the other hand, the process of threading the loom takes years of an apprenticeship. The thread itself was imported to the colonies, and Williamsburg doesn’t spin all their yarn now either. Since 8 spinners were needed to keep one weaver going, it was impractical to spin it all themselves.

From dying to weaving, the whole fiber process is represented at the weaver’s. Silk worm casings lie on the table, along with other materials used for dyes. One of the popular substances for getting red dye was cochineal beetles. These insects were crushed and yielded a beautiful color. Something to note though: they are still used in several items today, including red skittles!

Blacksmith

New tongs are created for different projects
Blacksmiths did a lot of repair work

Inside the blacksmith shop are 4 forges. Tools line the walls and tables. One forge is surrounded by tongs. Different sizes and shapes of tongs were required for varying projects, so new ones were often made. For his first few years in operation, a new blacksmith would need to craft new tongs very frequently. But once he had a stockpile of tongs for certain processes and projects that he worked on often, he would only have to construct another pair every once in a while. Sometimes, a pair would only be used one time, for a specialized task. However, the interpreter there had heard of a blacksmith who owned just a few tongs, but was constantly reforging them to meet his needs.

DOG Street Gastropub and M. Dubois Grocer

Located just outside of the Historic Area, the Gastropub was a great place to have a meal. With a great atmosphere, attentive service, and tasty food, we had an enjoyable lunch here.

The Grocer sells candy and other snacks, but they also have the Raleigh Tavern ginger cakes, which I had heard of before we visited.

Raleigh Tavern: Meet a Nation Builder

There is no script, just thousands of Jefferson’s letters to refer to
Jefferson quotes were seamlessly integrated into the conversation
The actor actually seemed like Thomas Jefferson!

When we sat down in the Raleigh Tavern’s crowded Apollo Room, I had significantly lower expectations than when I left. Williamsburg employs several people to portray specific figures from the time of the American Revolution. This presentation was by the young Thomas Jefferson, a.k.a. Kurt Benjamin Smith. After being introduced by an interpreter, Thomas Jefferson walked into the room. From the moment he arrived, he was completely in character.

He spoke about Jefferson’s belief that education was a right, of the oft-forgotten perspective of Jefferson being a traitor to his country of Britain, and that he wanted to free and educate slaves, but also desired to ship them back to Africa. He loved his mentors, George Wythe and William Small, commenting that we frequently forget the teachers, even though they are the ones who shape the student. And he reminded us that the Revolution was not a war over taxes, but over fundamental rights that were granted to every Brit in the Magna Carta hundreds of years prior.

You can tell that he has researched his character extraordinarily well. He was able to answer visitors’ questions thoroughly, and without hesitation. Repeatedly during the performance he referenced Jefferson quotes, and they seemed to perfectly fit into what he was saying, as if natural. Jefferson was know to be witty, and so was Smith. He gave Jefferson’s opinions on various topics in a way that was thought-provoking and inspiring. He left us with a request to let this not be just a nice, one-time conversation, but that we would go and take part in our country, civilly conversing with each other.

If you go to Colonial Williamsburg, make sure you see Young Thomas Jefferson! We agreed this was the highlight of our trip.

Wetherburn’s Tavern

Wetherburn’s was considered one of, if not the, nicest tavern in colonial Virginia
The building is furnished according to a detailed, room-by-room inventory
George Washington visited the tavern’s ballroom

Unlike most of the buildings, there are guided tours offered on the hour and half-hour at Wetherburn’s Tavern. The tavern boasted public and private rooms. The private rooms would be rented out for clubbing, smoking, gambling, and drinking. One story goes that two men bet land on whose raindrop would reach the bottom of the windowpane first. Gambling was pretty popular, to say the least.

Upstairs were the bedrooms where weary guests could sleep. In one room, there are only two beds, which is accurate. Many visitors would bring their own bedroll, which was basically a woolen blanket, and sleep on the floor. Adversely, the ones sleeping in beds might not necessarily be the luckier ones: you never knew what sorts of bugs were lurking there.

Farther down the hall is a room that was reserved for a Mr. Page. Instead of buying a house in town or staying with friends, Mr. Page just reserved a room in the tavern. But if someone was sleeping in the next room down, they would have to walk through Page’s room.

Women were allowed to sleep with their husbands at taverns, but downstairs, they didn’t really use the public rooms. Sometimes they would be in the private rooms, but the most likely reason for a woman to come to Wetherburn’s would be the balls. A large ballroom was added onto the tavern and balls were regularly held, along with extravagant dinners. George Washington even attended an event there once!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of Williamsburg! Check out the links below for some fantastic resources. Till next week!

Father Figures
by Joe Straw Photography by Dave Doody Thomas Jefferson’s story is big. So big that Colonial Williamsburg needs two people to convey his full evolution from an upstart patriot to a statesman who helped mold America. For more than two decades, Bill Barker’s warm, far-reaching interpretation of the patriot and third President has made him a Historic Area institution.

Bruton Parish: Home
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Nation Builders
An elite cadre of interpreters, Nation Builders portray real historic figures associated with 18th-century Williamsburg who made significant contributions to the American story. Meet a Nation Builder during your visit who helped shape their time, and whose legacy continues to influence and inspire American ideals.

The George Wythe House at Colonial Williamsburg

January 31, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

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.

Downstairs, there is a summer bedroom, meant to combat the heat during the hottest months of the year. From the pictures, you may not be able to tell just how bright and busy some of these wallpapers can be. They definitely make a statement. But in case you’re wondering, Williamsburg gets all their papers from a business in England who specifically recreates 18th century wallpaper. So all of these styles are accurate.

An inconspicuous feature of the house is nestled into the wooden shutters. If you open the shutters, which are expertly fitted into the four-brick-thick wall, you might notice the grapefruit-sized holes. There’s one in the parlor, and another upstairs. They were used for their ability to concentrate solar power into a primitive microscope — some of the newest technology at the time!

Another tidbit is that the floorboards have been flipped, so now you’re walking on the underside of the boards Jefferson has tread. 🙂

Back behind the house stand numerous smaller buildings. There are four larger ones, all about the same size, and then a few other smaller structures.

The Cooper

First off, though a cooper is known for constructing barrels, they can make anything that requires their set of skills. So anything from a huge barrel, to a tiny bucket*, to a wooden tankard, handy for using on ships, is made by them.

To be honest, I can’t say that I’ve been thrilled by the idea of coopering before. However, I walked out of that shop with a new respect for the craft and interest in it. As an aside, there wouldn’t really have been coopers inside the Wythe family grounds, but for interpretation’s sake, they have been placed there now.

The cooper starts a project by shaping the boards that will be used. At Williamsburg, the cooper was able to completely eyeball the process; he said that was why you served a 5-7 year apprenticeship. Pretty impressive. Deftly, he angled off the edges of the plank so that they would all fit snugly together. Then he used a hollowing knife to make a concave surface on the inner side. Finally, he curved the outer surface with a backing knife, and the single plank was ready to be put into a small barrel.

Metal rings are used to hold the various object together. No heat or blacksmithing is required to bind the metal strips into rings. The coopers purchase metal already formed into narrow strips. Then they cut and bend them to the size needed, hammering a nail through the connecting ends.

Those metal rings are primarily made of iron, but sometimes brass or copper. Brass and copper don’t corrode as quickly as iron, which makes them great choices for sailors’ tankards. Also, brass and copper don’t spark if they strike a rock, so they were definitely the wise selection when making a gunpowder barrel.

Each metal ring is fitted around the boards until it is very tight. Now the shape of barrels makes sense: they need to be able to hammer every ring down until it can’t go farther. So you end up with the slightly inverted-hour-glass shape.

To open and close a barrel that contains dry goods, the top rings and removed, allowing the lid to be pulled out. The tops and bottoms are fitted into a ridge cut into the inside of the planks. For barrels meant to hold liquids, a small hole is cut in the side where a plug can be placed.

And if you’re every in a pinch, a cooper’s trick to stop a leak is to stuff the crack with cattails. The cattails swell and work well enough to stop the problem long enough for the cooper to get around to fixing it.

*[I have now read on C.W.’s website that buckets were not technically part of the cooper’s trade, but their coopers do make them.]

The Kitchen

A large fireplace dominates one of the kitchen’s walls, in front of which is a plain wooden table used as a work surface. To the side is another table filled with various dishes that the Williamsburg cooks have made recently, including a roasted chicken with its head and legs (just so you can make sure it’s not a peacock). Underneath sits a collection of large ceramic jars filled with pickled foods, one with a bladder on top.

By the fire, an interpreter was readying a yeast base for some bread, which she was going to cook in a dutch oven. Another reenactor explained to us that in the 18th century, this kitchen would have been manned by slaves, as many things around the Wythe house were. The slave quarters were housed above the kitchen. He went on to say that many slaves were educated to be able to perform their duties well. Tragically, this could be used to identify them if they managed to escape. A slave known for his skill at blacksmithing would be recognized for the trait if he tried to use it.

Back to the food-covered table though, we see the whole chicken lying roasted on a plate. Common practice was to leave the legs and head on fowl as a way to identify them. First, the chicken’s age could be told be the size of the spurs on its feet. Large, calloused spurs meant an older bird. Then, the head was left on so that diners could tell what type of bird they were eating. Nowadays, this might seem a tad excessive, but back then, they were eating from a much wider selection of birds than we do. There were swans, eagles, peacocks, finches, pigeons (there’s a coop for them right there), hummingbirds(!), and many more! Can you imagine eating a hummingbird?

Outside in the yard we had noticed a very cute breed of chicken that was much smaller than most. We were told that those are Bantam chickens, specifically Nanking. Bantam only refers to the size of the bird, whereas nanking is the actual breed. Nanking, he went on to say, are closely related to the chicken ancestor, a bird that pops up about 4,ooo years ago in Asia. Interesting!

Another food fact: most of the ceramic jars did not have an airtight seal. They contained pickles, which naturally preserve themselves and do not require refrigeration. If the colonists did wish for an airtight seal, they could use animal bladders, which were stretched over jar mouths when wet. Then as they dried, they shrunk, thoroughly sealing in the contents. You can now be thankful for metal jar lids!

The Wythe House is just a tiny sampling of Williamsburg’s expansive collection of buildings. I had an amazing visit, and you’ll probably be hearing a little more about it next week! Colonial Williamsburg has some great online resources: check out the links below!

How about you? Have you had an interesting experience at Colonial Williamsburg? Please feel free to comment below about your time there! I’d love to hear from you!

Biography of George Wythe
Born 1726 at Chesterville (now in Hampton, Virginia) Man of integrity and virtue, respected by all First Virginia signer of the Declaration of Independence Framer of the federal Constitution Instrumental in design of seal of Virginia Believed poisoned by his grandnephew in 1806 Buried at the church where Patrick Henry made his "liberty or death" speech George Wythe (pronounced "with") was born in 1726 at Chesterville in what is now Hampton, Virginia.

Colonial Williamsburg | Take Time To Go Back
From hands-on activities to guided tours of original 18th-century buildings to our unmatched folk-art collection, there's something for everyone at Colonial Williamsburg. Your admission ticket is the key Your ticket purchase supports our mission to share America's enduring story.

Home page of History.org : The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's official History and Citizenship site
In Colonial Williamsburg's 301-acre Historic Area stand hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city-black, white, and native American, slave, indentured, and free-and the challenges they faced. In this historic place, we help the future learn from the past.

Adventure on Boston’s Freedom Trail

January 9, 2019 / Ava / 0 Comments

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).

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.

To Be Continued…

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.

Part 2: Adams National Historical Park

November 12, 2018 / Ava / 0 Comments

Your cliffhanger resolution has arrived! Sorry everyone for the long absence! I got a little overwhelmed with the holiday and National Novel Writing Month. Last time I left off with me on the trolley to visit John and Abigail Adams’ much more lavish residence, the Old House at Peace field. We arrived just as a rainstorm ended. The driver pulled up outside the stone wall and we walked down to the gate, where another park ranger was waiting for us. Something I forgot to mention before, is that in its entirety, the tour is about 3 hours long. Though I certainly enjoyed it, the tour might be a little long for younger kids. Fortunately, there are the trolley rides as well, so you’re not just in one location for 3 hours.

As we gathered on the porch, a different group filed out which was much larger than ours; I suppose we lucked out! Before we entered the house, the ranger answered any questions we might have starting out. Someone asked about the stone wall in front, which turned out to have been added by a later relation as the town of Quincy grew busier.

When we headed in, we were instructed to look into the room on our left, before entering the dining room on our right. The left room was a mahogany paneled parlor, and was partitioned off. Similarly, the room we were now in was mostly roped off, so that the aging artifacts could be protected.

Something that is unique about the Peace field house is that none of the rooms are arranged for a particular time period. Everything is a conglomeration of the different generations’ possessions. So in this first room, the ranger pointed out to us that the dining room table and chairs set had belonged to John and Abigail. The chairs on either end and the chest standing against one wall were each from successive descendants.

The second room we entered was a parlor that Abigail had requested to be added later on. With higher ceilings and more expensive furniture, this was a room for only adults, modeled after the popular fashions of Europe. Included in the decor were multiple portraits of various Adams family members. Two of them are from the 17th century and are believed to be the earliest surviving portraits painted in the colonies! The set of white, upholstered furniture in the room John had purchased in Europe for one of the U.S. embassies. But he ended up shipping it back for his own use at a later time. Dating from the 1830s, the wallpaper in the parlor is the oldest in the house.

From there, we went upstairs, where we peered over a rope at the study. The room was large, spanning the width of the house. One of the objects inside was a chair covered in floral fabric. We were told that this was the chair John Adams died in on July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was announced.

The next space we entered was the Presidential Walkway, so named because one of the presidents caused its construction. Before this hallway was built, in order to get from the master bedroom to the study, you either had to go downstairs, cross to the other side of the house, and take another staircase back up, or you had to walk through the guest bedroom. Now John Quincy Adams was in the habit of visiting his study during the night, and he preferred taking the latter route, regardless of whether guests occupied it or not. His wife, Louisa Catherine, disapproved, and suggested the hallway as a means for John Quincy to reach his study with speed. The walkway was built and is filled with bookshelves, which are covered with books.

As we strolled down the passage, we peeked into the various bedrooms. The master was first used by John and Abigail, but when Abigail died, John slept in a different bedroom instead. But the master was utilized again by John Quincy and Louisa.

At the end of the hallway, we passed through a door. A staircase spiraled up to a third floor where the servants would have lived. John and Abigail were not overly wealthy, but there grandson Charles Francis Adams was. He achieved his riches the old-fashioned way: by marrying into it. He and his wife added on to the house, including the servants quarters for their and their guests’ servants.

Back downstairs, by a different stairway, we emerged in the kitchen. A hodgepodge of appliances and cooking accoutrements from various eras were placed around the room. Along one wall was a row of bells for many rooms that alerted servants to their masters’ needs.

Then we proceeded through a butler’s pantry of sorts that houses many different plates, bowls and serving ware from the Adams family. We then came out into the main hall, where the ranger told us a story of Louisa Catherine. Louisa was disapproved of by her mother-in-law, Abigail. Since Louisa was from England, and was used to high society there, Abigail felt that she was weak and unsuited for the New England life.

Louisa got her chance to prove Abigail wrong. She had been living with her husband John Quincy in Russia while he was a delegate there. However, John was asked to go to France. John believed his stay would be temporary, and left Louisa and their son in Russia. When it became apparent that John would be staying, he asked Louisa to sell their house, pack up their belongings and come to him on the other side of Europe.

But John didn’t consider that the journey would be through a wintry, currently war-torn Europe. Louisa made the trip nonetheless, using her french to get them through a sticky situation with opposing military forces. After that, she always had Abigail’s respect.

After John Adams time, a library was constructed on the estate. The building was made with stone to ensure that the books would be safe from the threat of fire. The construction is beautiful, and is filled with tomes from top to bottom. There are books in many languages including the 5 different ones that John Quincy could read!

All in all, the Adams family were a unique and interesting group who were formative in the establishment and development of the early United States. I would definitely recommend visiting, though make sure your directions are correct! While you’re impatiently waiting for the historic homes to reopen this spring, check out the link below, where you can peek into a few rooms on your own. Till next week!

Adams National Historical Park - Google Arts & Culture
ADAMS NHP provides "an extraordinary window into the personal lives of two presidential families; early American literature, education and intellectual lif...

: Peace Field

: Peace Field Library

: Peace Field

: Old House Hall

: Glass Dishware

: Ceramics

: Old House Kitchen

: Servant Bells in Kitchen

: Old House Kitchen

: Old House Bathroom

: Old House Bedroom

: 17th Century Paintings on Right

: Old House Parlor

: Old House Dining Room

Adams National Historical Park

November 6, 2018 / Ava / 0 Comments

This site is actually situated in three different locations around the historic town of Quincy, Mass. With its aging saltbox houses, this park is one that I’ve been interested in for years. In 7th grade, I preformed a monologue based from one of Abigail Adams’ letters to John Adams. I was intrigued by the letters’ truthful descriptions of everyday 18th century life, including smallpox inoculations, to significant events, such as accounts of the Declaration of Independence being announced. How cool to be able to see where these intriguing people lived!

Throughout his life, John Adams wished to be back home with his family at his humble, peaceful farm. Now the public can visit that place as well. My dad and I drove over to see it before the historic houses closed for the season on November 11th. The visitor center does remain open during the winter, but I would recommend going when the houses are open, as they are the main attraction.

We followed our GPS to the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces. However, when we stepped inside, a park ranger informed us that we were welcome to join this tour, but the experience is better if you start at the visitor center. A trolley will take you from there to the birthplaces, and then the second stop at Peacefield estate.

We decided to drive to the visitor center so that everything would be in order. Getting there proved a little frustrating, even though it is close by. I would make sure that you are getting directions for the Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center, not the Presidential Birthplaces.

Once there, we arrived about 20 minutes before the 1:15pm tour. For some reason, the fee was waived that day, but according to the website, it’s usually $15 per person over the age of 16. A video was playing, giving an overview of the four generations of Adams that lived in these houses. Unfortunately, we weren’t quite able to finish it before the trolley arrived.

Taking the trolley, we were back at the birthplaces in less than 10 minutes. A park ranger met us outside the buildings, introduced himself, and gave a brief intro to the houses. In short, most of the houses’ original structure has been replaced over the years. They still stand on their original, 17th century foundations.

The John Quincy Adams house does have two 17th century floorboards and the John Adams house has one 17th century ceiling beam. The most recent major restoration was in the 1980s when the properties were transferred to the Park Service. Shingles were replaced in 2013, and are the newest repair to the houses.

Once the ranger answered our questions, we trooped into the John Adams Birthplace, whose outside slats are stained dark brown. Inside, there isn’t a lot of furniture. When it was used by the Adams, there would have been a few more tables and chairs, but not too much more.

John Adams’ father, Deacon John Adams, was a farmer, but followed his family’s tradition of educating the eldest son. Beginning at the age of 10, the Deacon attempted to start John’s education, but John wasn’t interested. The Deacon let it slide until John turned 14, at which time he insisted that his son take studying seriously. John bargained that he would obey as long as he could have a new teacher, which he was allowed.

John’s love for learning exploded after that. He attended Harvard starting at the age of 16, as he was able to pass the entrance exam and pay for tuition. Once he graduated in 1755, he attempting teaching for a year, but discovered that the career was not for him. By the end of the year, he was having students teach the class, and skipping out to attend court sessions. Once his year was completed, he worked under attorney James Putnam and soon passed the 18th century equivalent of the bar exam himself.

Back near Quincy, John was getting to know Abigail Smith. Though it was by no means love at first sight, they began writing letters back and forth discussing philosophy.

John’s father died in 1761, and John inherited one of the houses, along with 10 acres of land. His brothers both inherited significantly more land than John, as their father expected them to make a living from the land and John was to make a living from the education the Deacon gave him. This division was one reason John called his father the most honest man he knew.

John and Abigail were married in October 1764, and moved into the farmhouse where John Quincy Adams would be born. On the tour, we headed over this tan-painted house, perhaps 30 feet away.

This house was similar inside. One of the rooms was set up as John Adams would have used it as his law office. A replica of his desk stands in one corner. All of the furniture in these buildings are replicas; originals that survive are located at Peacefield.

For much of the time John and Abigail were based here Abigail ran the farm. As John became more and more involved in the colonial government, he was gone for long stretches of time. Later, John was sent to help negotiate a treaty with France. He took his son, John Quincy Adams, with him.

I do have a small correction though. In answer to questions from other visitors, the park ranger confirmed that people were definitely shorter back then, and that is one of the reasons for low doorways, etc. He did state that the other reason would be for heat conservation. However, I just recently heard it reiterated that it is not necessarily true that people of the past were shorter. For starters, George Washington was 6’4″! Height depends on how well multiple generations have been fed. In the American colonies, food was readily available and had been, in Britain, for years, so height would have been very similar to ours now.

After a rapid tour of the two homes in half an hour, the trolley arrived to bring us to our next stop. We hopped on, and were whisked past the visitor center to Peacefield. Peacefield is the house and property that John and Abigail purchased when they returned from living in Europe’s opulence. When they were planning on coming back, their quaint farmhouse no longer seemed to meet their needs.

Next week I’ll finish the visit by detailing our tour through Peacefield, which is definitely the property that the Park Service focuses on.

Lexington’s Hancock-Clarke House and Buckman Tavern

October 29, 2018 / Ava / 0 Comments

I’m sure you’ve heard of Paul Revere’s midnight ride, “One if by land, two if by sea,” and the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”. But how many of us have really gotten into the nitty-gritty of what happened on that 19th of April, 1775? That day was pivotal in the American Revolution: blood was shed on both sides. After that, nothing was the same and war was imminent.

Now, there are plenty of sites you can visit that each focus on differing parts of the event. You could go to the Old North Church or Paul Revere’s house in the heart of Boston, or you could head over to Minuteman National Park to view the North Bridge, among a host of other sites. However, I decided to drop in on the Lexington Historical Society and explore two of their c.18th century buildings.

After picking up a fellow history lover, my plan was to head to the Buckman Tavern first, which is right off the Lexington Green, then go to see the Hancock-Clarke House second. When we arrived at the tavern, we were asked if we wanted to take a tour of the building.

The price for touring just the tavern is $8.00. However, you can also purchase a $12.00 ticket that admits you to the Buckman Tavern, the Hancock-Clarke House, and the Munroe Tavern. At the moment though, the Munroe Tavern is closed until April 2019, but you can bring back the ticket next year to receive admission then. You don’t have to go to all the buildings on one day anyways.

I decided to buy the combo ticket. It seemed like the best deal, and we had the time for it. The woman at the front recommended walking over to the Hancock-Clarke House first, because its tours start every hour, and the tour gives a good background for learning about the tavern. Walking took less than ten minutes, as the house is just down the street.

Easy to spot with its bright yellow paint, the colonial building’s museum entrance is through a small wooden structure at the back. A historic herb garden surrounds the roadside sign, with different markers next to the carefully selected plants.

When I stepped inside, the path to the information desk seemed a bit awkward with a display narrowing the walkway. We arrived just in time for the 11:00 tour. First, we were instructed to take a seat in the main room where we were shown a 15 minute video giving a condensed history of the events leading up to the skirmish is Concord, focusing on Lexington’s part.

Once it ended, we were asked not to use flash photography, or to touch/lean upon any of the artifacts. Our guide was a man likely in his late 60s, who was wearing colonial garb. He was extremely knowledgeable and earned my stamp of approval by answering all my questions and presenting his information in an engaging -and sometimes funny- way.

So it turns out, the Hancock part of the house’s name originates from theJohn Hancock’s (the signer of the Declaration of Independence) family. His grandfather lived there for fifty odd years while he was the minister at the Lexington meetinghouse. This John Hancock (the first), raised his family there, including three sons.

The first son (John Hancock the second), and the third son both went to Harvard to become ministers. The middle son was trained as a bookbinder, and later transitioned to a bookseller among other things. This son, Thomas Hancock, made a fortune with his books, and became a wealthy landowner in Boston.

John Hancock II died when he was only 42, and left behind his wife and three children. Thomas Hancock and his wife, who hadn’t been able to have children themselves, adopted the eldest, John, as their own. After rich Uncle Thomas’ death, his wealth was left to his nephew, John Hancock III, who became the money source for the colonists during the Revolution.

But back to the house. In the 1730’s, Thomas most likely paid for an addition to be made on his parents house. Now, there is no hard evidence pertaining to exactly how all the parts of the present Hancock-Clarke House ended up together, but our tour guide gave us his own theory. Put simply, his idea is that part of this building was moved to its current location from another part of the town, which would explain some of the house’s oddities and the dates that have been gathered from wood samples.

Tiles around one of the fireplaces depicting Biblical scenes

After all these Hancocks, you might be wondering where the Clarkein the house’s name comes from. Clarke came into the picture when John Hancock I died and a new minister was required for Lexington’s meeting house. The Reverend Jonas Clarke was hired, and it was he and his family who were living in the house when the events of April 19th occurred.

So on April 18th and then 19th, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and later Samuel Prescott were riding through the country to warn the townspeople of the impending arrival of the Redcoats. Some of the people they particularly wanted to warn were Samuel Adams and John Hancock (III), who were staying at–guess where–the Hancock-Clarke House. Several warnings throughout the night were required to finally convince the two men to leave. Just in time, because the British Regulars arrived a few hours later.

Back in the 1700’s, this house would have had a clear view to the Lexington Green where the brief battle took place. One account by a survivor mentions hurtling down the road towards the house on a runaway horse during the skirmish. I could easily envision the galloping horse as our tour guide directed us to take a peek at the view from the upper story windows.

Once our tour was completed, we walked back to the Buckman Tavern. The women at the front desk were very friendly, and got us all set with our audio guides for the tour. There is also a nice gift shop in the tavern, with a lot of interesting colonial souvenirs. When we were ready, a guide led us to a room at the back of the building.

Inside this room, there was a display of items that would actually have been found at the Battle of Lexington (or most likely, for a few of them). A large stone marker rested against one wall, and old drawings were hung on another. She gave us an introduction to the tavern and an explanation of how to use the audio guides, which is very straightforward. We might’ve spent longer than usual because another group came in while we were listening to the audio guide. Hearing the audio was made a little more difficult while she gave them an introduction, but it didn’t last long.

Slowly, we walked through the other rooms, pausing in each one to listen to the corresponding number on the guide. The Buckman Tavern is the location where Lexington’s militia gathered after an initial call to arms during the night. When the Regulars didn’t show up, they thought it might’ve been a false alarm. So some went home while others stayed in the tavern right off the green. The militia who remained in the tavern were the ones who made a stand when the Redcoats arrived. A testament to its role in the skirmish, a bullet hole is still visible in the old front door.

Once we finished the main floor, we turned around and headed upstairs. The tavern has a new exhibit there on social media and its 18th century counterparts. There are several interactive displays and you can even send a postcard to a friend to commemorate your visit.

Overall, I found this museum very interesting, though I did prefer the Hancock-Clarke House, mainly because there was a tour guide instead of audio. I would definitely make a stop at the Lexington Historical Society next time you get a chance!

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and Grist Mill Part 1

October 22, 2018 / Ava / 2 Comments

This landmark is billed as America’s oldest running inn. Quite a claim, so after browsing through the website, I decided I definitely needed to check it out. Online, I found that there is an enclave of historic buildings nearby, including an operational grist mill, the Martha Mary Chapel, and the Mary Had a Little Lamb Schoolhouse (yes, it’s believed that this is where Mary took her little lamb to school!) My grandma was visiting this past week, so we headed over to see the Grist Mill and get a bite to eat at the Wayside Inn.

My mom drove the whole crew over and we stopped first at the Grist Mill. There’s a simple sign on the side of the road giving the name and construction date. Parking is limited and consists of some gravel off the side of the road. However, our visit was on a weekday and we had no difficulties finding a space. We walked down a few steps to a path going across a flat, grassy field. A few signs indicated that the Grist Mill is a 1930 reconstruction of the original.

We crossed a small stream with a few fish in it and then stood at the foot of the mill. Boy, was it picturesque! I’d definitely recommend bringing a camera. With its bright red water wheel, stone walls, and mist sparkling in the sun, the old Grist Mill made for beautiful scene. (I should add, for professional photography sessions, you need to get permission ahead of time.)

Near the mill’s base, there are millstones scattered around with a sign describing their different characteristics. An uneven stone staircase leads up around to the back of the building, where the main entrance is on the second floor. Once inside, there is no fee, but a box is there for optional donations as you walk in.

We soon realized that no one was inside the Grist Mill to interpret, though the website indicated that there would be. Maybe it was because we came so close to 5 o’clock, which is closing time. I had also seen online that working mill demonstrations most often occurred on the weekend when there were the most visitors. We read most of the signs and found out that this mill, in the middle of Massachusetts, was owned by the Henry Ford!

All the mill’s contraptions were very interesting, but it would have been even better if they were moving. We went through pretty quickly and hopped back into the car.

Just down the road, the Wayside Inn sprawls along the road. We were a little confused where to park and picked a space across the street. However, there is actually parking behind the inn as well. Once we located the entrance (it’s not obvious from across the street), we found ourselves in a hallway across from the Wayside’s gift shop. The gift shop was nice, with cute products and history books for sale.

We were there kind of early for dinner, so we didn’t have any problems getting a table. I’m fact, it was pretty empty. Our waitress led us to what she told us was one of the oldest rooms at the inn: the kitchen. I could tell that the room was old: the wooden floors had warped and the old bookcase against one wall slanted along with it. A large fireplace was located right next to our table, and various cooking accoutrements were placed around it. One of them was a sort of geared pulley system; we asked the waitress what it was, and it turned out to be an antique, automated rotisserie.

Snacking on the assorted breads given us, we made our order. (Though I know this isn’t a food blog, I’ll give my two cents worth: our favorite parts were the breads and indian pudding. The rest of the food was not bad.)

As we were headed out, I noticed a sizable embroidered map of the Greater Boston Area. The interesting stitchery depicted the events of April 19th, 1775, when British soldiers marched through Lexington and Concord. I thought it quite neat.

Further down the hall there appeared to be the hotel section of the inn. You can actually still stay there! But without fully exploring that end, we departed for the car.

When we emerged outside, low and behold, there was a group of fifers getting ready for practice. A father and son stood near a bench. While we waited for my mom to bring the car around, we struck up a conversation. Turns out, the father is a docent at the inn on weekends. They are both a part of different fife and drum corps in the area. The Sudbury Ancients, the father’s group, was the one that was going to be practicing that night. On Wednesday nights during the summer through September you can find them there.

Once he found out that we hadn’t been to the Wayside before and hadn’t gone a tour, he offered to give us a brief tour. We filed back in the way we came while he gave us an overview of events leading up to the shots in Lexington and how that affected the inn and its occupants.

We passed through the lobby to the hall where we had stopped before. On one side, there was a bar, on the other, an exhibit. Our tour guide explained that this was the original section of the building, and this one room has been maintained to appear as it would have hundreds of years ago. The room is believed to be the one described in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, Tales of a Wayside Inn, thus the name.

Next we went upstairs, where there is a large function room, a few glass cases with artifacts, and overnight rooms. Our guide pointed out to us an original charred beam from a 1955 fire that blazed in the building. He also told us that people have left rolled up notes in the bedrooms for a long time; unfortunately, any historical significant ones are probably gone.

After answering our questions, he concluded the tour, saying that he recommends returning on a Sunday, when there are reenactors present. Then we filed outside and into the car. I was left with a much better feeling towards the place after our tour. I definitely intend to return on a future Sunday to explore the sites when they have the most to offer. Then I will have to write a Part 2.

As a final note, there does not appear to be any fees for visiting the Wayside Inn, and the Grist Mill is supported by donations. I believe this historic enclave is certainly worth a weekend visit!

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1. Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Co. 2. Westbrook Drum Corps 3. Landcraft Fife & Drum Corps 4. Menotomy Minute Men Fife & Drum 5. Kentish Guards Fife & Drum Corps 6. Connecticut Patriots 7. William Diamond Jr. Fife & Drum Corps 8. Prescott's Battalion 9. Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums 10.

Welcome | Wayside Inn
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