Other Taverns
Buckman Tavern, circa 1710, Lexington, MA
Originally known as the Muzzey Tavern (John Buckman was a grandson by marriage)
From the upstairs bedroom window, Paul Revere watched the developing anarchy occurring on Lexington Green just across the street…
Wright Tavern, circa 1747, Concord, MA
The rallying point for the men of Concord the morning of April 19, 1775 became the headquarter for the British that one day when they were patrolling the area and engaging the colonials. Legend has it (first recorded some 60 yrs later), that Major Pitcairn of the British stirred his brandy with a bloody finger and remarked ” He hoped he should stir the Yankee blood so before night.”
Munroe Tavern, circa 1695, Lexington, MA
After engaging the colonials in Concord at the North Bridge, Colonial Smith’s retreat turned disastrous, with colonial militia attacking his column from all sides. On the east side of Lexington, the British finally found reinforcements. The Munroe tavern was used as a headquarters and hospital that day…
Hartwell Tavern, circa 1732, Lincoln, MA
On the night of April 18th, an advance guard of British soldiers captured Paul Revere and William Dawes just down the road from the tavern. Dr. Samuel Prescott of Concord, who was riding with them, escaped by leaping his horse over a stone wall and fleeing through pasture and swamp. He emerged at the Hartwell Tavern. Prescott awakened old Ephraim and told him that the British regulars on the march. Ephraim sent his black slave Violet down the road to awaken Samuel Hartwell next door. Mary then took over and relayed the message to Captain William Smith, commanding officer of the Lincoln Minute Men. Thus the Lincoln Minute Men were warned in time, and arrived at the NorthBridge before the British soldiers got there (credit: NPS). A private residence until 1967, it was purchase by the National Park Service and now is part of Minuteman National Park. It was restored in the 1980’s to it’s 1775 appearance. An architectural gem.
Loyalist Isaac Jones lived here, and in March 1774 Rebels attacked the house breaking windows and demanding that his wife Mary turn him over, but Isaac was at Uxbridge. The mob yelled out “Damed Tory” and rushed the house, breaking dishes, and partitions and stealing several goods. Isaac held out and would not be bullied.
Williams Tavern, circa 1662, Marlborough, MA
If the original building were still standing, Williams Tavern would be the oldest tavern in the United States.Williams House was built in 1662 by Lt. Abraham Williams near the eastern shore of what is known today as Lake Williams. It was licensed in 1663, the first tavern in the area for “feeding man and beast,” and was burned to the ground during the King Philip War in 1676. Lt. Williams rebuilt the building, naming it Williams Tavern, and operated it until 1772, when it was taken over by his grandson, Colonel Abraham Williams. That same year stages began running between New York and Boston, and Williams Tavern was one of three stops between Boston and Worcester. A few years later, on July 2, 1775, George Washington, stopped at the tavern (credit: MH Society).
(John) How Tavern, circa 1670, Marlborough, MA
John How(e), the orginally settler of the area back in 1637, kept a tavern and store on this site. The structure above likely has some of the orginal building incorporated in it. It has been a private residence for well over a century.
Fitch Tavern, circa 1677, Bedford, MA
In the center of Bedford, MA, it was here, while Jeremiah Fitch, a sergeant of the Bedford Militia company was operating it as a tavern, that twenty-six Bedford Minutemen gathered on the morning of April 19, 1775, following the alarm that the British were on the march from Boston.
In the tap room Mr. Fitch called the Minutemen to gather about the warmth of the fireplace while young Lydia Fitch served up cold cornmeal mush and hot buttered rum. Captain Jonathan Wilson looked into the eyes of his men and spoke the famous words, “It is a cold breakfast, boys, but we’ll give the British a hot dinner; we’ll have every dog of them before night.” The Minutemen then marched on foot to Concord, joining the fifty men of the Bedford Militia en route. Strangely, little mention of this seemingly historic structure is in the 1891 classic ”History of the Town of Bedford” by Abram Brown.
Noah Brooks Tavern, circa 1798, Lincoln, MA
“The Bedford companies met with no loss at the bridge, and were all in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. They left the “Great Fields” at Merriam’s Corner, and engaged in the attack, then hastened in the pursuit, and were in the thickest of the fight near the ‘Brooks Tavern’, where Captain Wilson was killed and Job Lane wounded. A British soldier said of them and others: “They fought like bears, and I would as soon storm hell as fight them again.”" History of the town of Bedford, 1891, by Abram English Brown.
Other Taverns
Old Ordinary, circa 1688, Hingham, MA
Not much history is presented on this historical structure. I will continue to research. Elise Lathrop briefly mentions what it looked like back in 1926, in “Early American Inns and Taverns”, see resource tab for copy. P.65 of this book has a photo of the old kitchen and outside.
Washington Tavern, Hopkinton, MA
Nothing seemingly historically significant, but in my hometown. Just a beautiful structure that is now a private residence. The starting line for the Boston Marathon is on the street right in front of this tavern.
Jacob DePuy Stone House, circa 1797, High Falls, NY (ok, not in NE, but one of my favorite buildings)
Bowman Tavern, East Lexington, MA, circa ~1825, Lexington, MA
For 20 years after 1825, this building was a tavern catering to teamsters and farmers driving sheep, turkeys, and cattle to the slaugherhouses of Brighton, MA. Now a private residence.
