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Category: 19th Century (Page 2 of 2)

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.

The Willard House and Clock Museum

March 26, 2019 / / 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.

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Part 2: Adams National Historical Park

November 12, 2018 / / 0 Comments
The Library at Peace Field

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...

Adams National Historical Park

November 6, 2018 / / 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.

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn and Grist Mill Part 1

October 22, 2018 / / 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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