Kim Ream

every little thing

Listen, my children, and you shall hear …

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The Minute Man statue stands next to the North Bridge.

… off the midnight ride of Paul Revere; so goes the poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860, almost 100 years after Revere’s ride through the Massachusetts countryside on April 19, 1775.

This past weekend Dale and I found ourselves exploring not only the path Revere took from Boston to Concord, but also discovering the area’s rich literary history.

This 16 mile path from Boston to Concord goes right though the town we are staying in. Paul Revere may have ridden very near to our house, which is in the historic area.

For the first time, I understand the meaning of “one if by land, and two if by sea.” Here’s a brief refresher for you (as I understand it). Years of colonial frustration with the British government resulted in the forming of a provincial government, militia and build-up of weapons. A few hundred British troops were sent from Boston to Concord, about 16 miles, to collect any weapons they found, especially four cannons the Americans had stolen from the British. As you can see from the above map, Boston is mostly surrounded by water. The British had two choices; cross the Charles River by boat into Charlestown or go south on land. Charlestown citizens were watching the North Church Tower for a signal so they would know which way they went. Finally they see two lanterns, meaning the British were crossing the water.

Then Paul Revere takes a horse and crosses the river before the British, while another man, William Dawes heads south by land. Both are trying to beat the British to Concord to warn all of the militia and Minute Men (more highly trained group) that the British are on their way. The citizens were not preparing to ambush the British or to start a war, but they were to be prepared for whatever may happen. Revere ends up getting arrested, interrogated then released but not before warning many of the people, who were prepared. Of course there is a lot more to it than that. Maybe these photos will help make it more interesting.

The North Bridge is where the British crossed the Concord River headed to the home of Colonel Barrett, who they suspected had four cannons and other armament. A small contingent of Redcoats, who guarded the bridge, were confronted by the local militia. No one is sure who shot first, but it is considered to be the start of the Revolutionary War.
These two gentlemen slipped into 1775 and brought us with them. The one in brown had assumed the role of a young man who was in the battle. The gentleman in blue is an author (for real) who has researched and written about the battle. They are standing in front of the Hartwell Tavern, one of 11 “witness houses” that are still standing from 1775.
Dale is serving up pints in the Hartwell Tavern!
There are several markers for British soldiers on the Battle Road to Concord.
This is the place where Paul Revere was arrested by the British while he was on his “midnight ride”. They released him and he went back to Lexington to hang out with Sam Adams and John Hancock.
The Wayside House. During the 19th century a succession of authors called this house home; most notably Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Alcotts owned the house from 1845-1852. Here Louisa and her sisters lived much of the childhood described in the book, “Little Women”. Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family owned the house from 1852 through 1869.
Walden Pond. While living in Walden Woods for two years beginning in 1845, Henry David Thoreau contemplated Walden Pond’s features. In “The Ponds” section of Walden, published in 1854.
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