Massachusetts – Kim Ream

Concord – September 2022

Finally I understand why Paul Revere made his midnight ride! It was extremely interesting to follow the Battle Field Road where the Revolutionary War began. The National Park Service has done a fantastic job on the Minute Man Park.

The North Bridge is where the British crossed the Concord River headed to the home of Colonel Barrett, who they suspected had the four missing cannons. 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.

Another view of the North Bridge.

The Minute Man statue stands next to the North Bridge.

An animated park ranger regales us with the happenings that occurred here on April 19, 1775.

Dale stands on the North Bridge, which crosses the Concord River.

This home built in 1705, was owned by Colonel James Barrett. On April 19, 1775 British Regulars searched this home looking for stores of artillery and ammunition. They found nothing because it had already been moved. They took some food and tried to pay Barrett's wife for it but she called it "blood money".

This home was built in 1705. It had already been standing 50 years when the Revolutionary War began!

A park volunteer describes the events at the Meriam House.

When the British passed the Meriam House they took pies from the oven because they were hungry. The NPS Ranger was handing out small pies to visitor. Dale snagged one, of course.

The British passed this home in the morning on the way to Concord, however, when the British returned later in the day they were attacked by militia. As they continued to retreat back to Boston they had to fight most of the way.

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.

This wall, which is located off the road in the woods, is probably an actual wall from the time of the battle. The walls that currently line the trail were remade once the National Parks removed the modern day road that had covered the historical trail.

This young militia man was headed down the road.

What a sweet expression and beautiful blue eyes!

This volunteer explained the kitchen to us and the popularity of chocolate to the people of the 1700s. I know it's important to me too!

This park volunteer spent a good deal of time explaining colonial life to Dale and I. She also gave me a sample of the tape that she is weaving. The tape is used to tie on aprons, bonnets, etc.

The Captain William Smith House was home to William, wife Catherine, three young children and an enslaved man named Cato. On April 19, 1775 the British column passed by here on their way to Concord and again during their fighting retreat to Boston in the afternoon. A wounded British soldier was left behind and treated at the house. He died and is buried near by.

Dale ponders the day's events.

The Hartwell Tavern interior.

Dale is serving up pints in the Hartwell Tavern!

The Battle Road Trail is a five mile trail connecting historic sites from Meriam’s Corner in Concord to the eastern boundary of the park in Lexington. Much of the trail follows the original remnants of the Battle Road: Where thousands of Colonial Militia and British Regulars fought a bloody engagement on April 19, 1775.

The Hartwell Tavern, one of the "witness houses" was restored and is maintained by the National Park Service. The entire "Battle Road" is a National Park that immerses you in history.

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.

The Battle Road has markers every mile to show the route the British took to and from Boston.

There are several markers for British soldiers on the road to Concord.

This bluff was used as a rallying point for the British before heading toward Fiske Hill.

This is one of 11 "witness houses" that were standing the day of April 19, 1775.

Dale and I made friends with this park ranger and we saw him quite a few times as we traveled up and down the battlefield trail.

The day we visited Minute Man National Park there were several volunteers and rangers in period costume.

This is the Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott wrote "Little Women". Why did everyone name their homes?

Can you imagine Louisa looking out the window as she penned one of her books?

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.

This trail at the top of a ridge near the Wayside House was used by Nathaniel Hawthorne as a place of contemplation.

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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson lived here from 1835 until his death in 1882.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the burial site of a number of famous authors and thinkers, especially on a hill known as "Authors' Ridge." It was dedicated on September 29, 1855; Ralph Waldo Emerson gave a dedication speech and would be buried there decades later.

People leave pens and pencils on the graves of the authors buried in the Sleep Hollow Cemetery.

Henry David Thoreau's family gravesite.

Nathaniel Hawthorn's grave.

The Alcott Family gravesite.

The Alcott Family is buried in the Sleep Hollow Cemetery. This is Louisa's grave.

Salem – September 2022

We spent our second weekend in Massachusetts visiting Salem. The city has developed a booming tourism industry based on the witch trials that took place here in the 1690s. Dale and I focused on the history and architecture and enjoyed the day very much.

A great place for breakfast! Our server, Holly, was very friendly.

It was a beautiful morning for breakfast outside.

I grew up watching Elizabeth Montgomery in Bewitched.

There are many charming streets in Salem. Dale and I focused on historical, not spiritual sites and activities. The town fully embraces the occultic.

The Witch Trial Memorial has stones around the perimeter that bear the names and the execution dates of each of the 20 victims.

The Salem with museum.

Our tour guide, Beth, was full of interesting information. We were fortunate to have her all to ourselves. She has lived in Salem her whole life. We found her under "Experiences" on Airbnb.

Often mistaken for a male witch, this statue in front of the Salem Witch Museum is of the city founder Roger Conant. This 9 foot tall bronze statue was erected in 1913.

Many of Salem's old home were painted using the same paint that was used on boats because it was available and withstood the elements.

Alexander Graham Bell presented his first public demonstration of the telephone in this building.

This building, called the Ropes Mansion, was featured in the movie "Hocus Pocus". It was Allison's house. The entire movie was shot in Salem.

Many of the doors were extra wide or had an additional panel that opened (like this one) to accommodate a casket. In ages past, when people died, they were laid out in the home's parlor for visitation. That's why when funeral homes first came on the scene they were called funeral parlors. After that, the parlor in a home began being called the "living" room.

One of the many beautiful tree-lined streets.

Notice the "witches" walking in front of Salem’s only building with direct ties to the witch trials. It is the 17th century home of Judge Jonathon Corwin. There were so many people dressed as witches and such. There are so many demonic stores and activities in this town.

The town hall is the earliest surviving municipal structure in Salem. it has always been used as a public hall and is still used as such today.

Yin Yu Tang House is a late 18th-century Chinese house from Anhui province in China that had been removed from its original village and re-erected in Salem, Massachusetts. I'm not sure why. You can tour it, but we didn't.

We took a ride of the harbor on The schooner Fame which is a full-scale replica of the first American privateer schooner to get to sea during the War of 1812.

Captain Mike gives us the rules before setting off.

Our ship was safe because my Marine was on duty.

Most of the passengers talked together rather than watch the progress. Dale and I both thought it was an expensive place to hold conversations.

There was mutiny! One of the many children tied up a passenger then laughed maniacally. Ha Ha!

We watched some of the passengers hoist the sails but there wasn't much wind.

The schooner sailed slowly out and back in with minimal fanfare.

One a several small lighthouses that dot Salem Harbor's shoreline. This one is part of a National Historic Maritime Park.

Heading back into the boat slip.

Plymouth – September 2022

We finished off our first weekend in Massachusetts by visiting Plymouth. It was pretty neat seeing all the historical sites we had only read about, or watched in educational videos.

A local, delicious place for breakfast before taking in all the historical sites.

A good breakfast with my man is the best start to the day!

Yes, that's the Mayflower behind us....well, maybe a replica of the Mayflower.

Supposedly this is "Plymouth Rock".

I think they are afraid Plymouth Rock will escape during the night. Ha Ha! It's sort of a temple-like prison.

Another view of the Mayflower replica.

The backside of the Mayflower, also know as the stern.

The street along the waterfront was a nice walk. I can't imagine what it looked like when the pilgrims arrived in December of 1620.

The "Pilgrim Mother" statue expresses faith, devotion and strength of endurance in a great cause and for a great principle. It was gifted to Plymouth in 1920 by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Chief Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin (c. 1581 – 1661) was the sachem or leader of the Wampanoags. He was a friend to the Pilgrims.

Another view of the harbor and the Plymouth Rock location.

The Richard Sparrow House is the oldest surviving house in Plymouth. The house was built around 1640 by Richard Sparrow, an English surveyor who arrived in Plymouth in 1636.

The Jabez Howland House was built in 1667, and purchased by Jabez Howland, son of Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley Howland, two of the original Pilgrims. His parents lived with him. So this house actually was lived in by Pilgrims from the Mayflower!

Burial Hill Cemetery has been used for burials by Plymouth residents since the 1620s. The first English settlers (known as "The Pilgrims") built their first fort/meeting house here. Here, Mayflower passengers are buried including Govenor William Bradford and William & Mary Brewster. The last burial took place in 1957.

There are many notable graves in the cemetery. Thankfully they marked a few, like this one of the first governor of the colony, William Bradford.

William Bradford was the first governor of Plymouth Colony. He is buried on Burial Hill.

A view of Plymouth Harbor and farther out, Plymouth Bay.

The first English settlers (known as "The Pilgrims") built their first fort/meeting house here, on what is now Burial Hill Cemetery.

Boston Freedom Trail – September 2022

The first weekend in Massachusetts was Labor Day weekend so we had extra time for sightseeing. We spent Saturday and Sunday in Boston walking 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.